A MAN has described how he had to hose down his oil tank after an arson attack which destroyed three cars near his home in Antrim town.
The attack took place in the Aghaboy Gardens area of the Stiles estate shortly before 12.45am yesterday.
One car was set alight before the blaze spread to two others parked a few feet away.
The fire also caused damage to neighbouring fences and gardens.
Firefighters tackled the blaze for around 45 minutes before managing to put it out.
Police have said they are treating it as deliberate.
One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said the fire threatened to spread to the oil tank in his garden.
"I was actually asleep and my wife was downstairs when she heard this crackling noise and looked outside and saw the flames," he said.
"It was really scary, because the sparks were flying onto my oil tank in the garden and I had to hose down the tank until the fire brigade got here or else it could have exploded. There are young children next door, it's mad."
In September a car was also left badly damaged after being set on fire in the Greystone area, while several cars were damaged in another incident in August in the Stiles estate.
Alliance councillor Neil Kelly said such crimes were becoming all too prevalent.
"This is happening too often in our town and it needs to stop and stop now," he said.
"Those responsible have no regard for property or people and their deplorable actions are putting lives at risk. I saw the damage caused earlier this morning when I visited the area and spoke to a man living in the street where this occurred.
"He was quite angered by what had happened and said it was quite a shock when he came out of his house to see the fire and the danger it put people in."
Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Montgomery said: "We could have been dealing with serious injuries or even fatalities and it is imperative that whoever was responsible for this is caught."
Police have appealed to anyone with information to contact them on 101.
