Arsonists torched a "bad parking" campaigner's car last night - then rescuers had their way blocked by badly-parked cars.

Firefighters were called to John Street, Rochester, at 12.30am today but they could not get their fire engine around a silver Ford Ka.

Yards away campaigner Jacqui Vango, pictured, was watching flames destroy the £8,000 Ford Focus outside her home.

Six firefighters lifted the Ka with their bare hands, but by then police had already put out the blaze with fire extinguishers.

It was the second time firefighters were blocked in John Street on the weekend, after a false alarm on Saturday in Weatherly Close.

Crew manager Ken Spratt, at Strood Fire Station, put out a warning to drivers.

He said: "We were delayed by four or five minutes, and the Ka owner was warned for causing an obstruction.

"Minutes count and the longer we take to get somewhere, the bigger the danger of a fire spreading. There were cars parked very close by which could have caught alight."

He added: "Moving cars is not ideal for us. Fortunately it was only small but we run a risk of injury."

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating a fire that occurred in John Street at around 12.30am this morning as arson.

"A silver Ford Focus valued at £8000 was destroyed in the blaze.

"Enquiries are ongoing and police are asking for anyone who may have information about this incident to contact Kent Police on 101 quoting reference XY/005272/12."

For more on this story, see the Medway Messenger this Friday.