Residents were woken in the middle of the night after four vehicles were set alight in a suspected arson attack.

Pictures show what looks like a a war zone or the aftermath of a riot following two separate blazes in the same street in Sandwich.

A van and three cars – a Golf, a BMW and a Peugeot – were destroyed by flames in Honfleur Road, where four fire engines were sent at 12.45am.

Sandwich town councillor Dean Marie, who photographed the damage, told KentOnline: “It is pretty scary because this is the third time it has happened on this street this year.

“Before it was around January and then March.”

Cllr Marie said he was already sure these fires were started deliberately.

He said: “Vehicles don’t keep spontaneously combusting in the same place.

“It is worrying because there are families and children nearby and someone could get killed or seriously injured.

“You don’t see a lot of police in Sandwich because it is a well thought of town but it is getting worrying with these attacks.”

Ward district councillor Dan Friend said: “You don’t expect that this sort of thing will come to Sandwich. But I feel sorry for the families affected.”

Fire crews were at the scene until 2.32am.

A spokesman said: “We were called to reports of multiple vehicles alight in Honfleur Road, Sandwich.

“Four fire engines attended and crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and compressed air foam to extinguish one fire involving a truck and a car, and a second fire involving two other cars.

“It’s believed the fires were started deliberately, and duty of care was left with Kent Police.”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “We were called at 12.50am following a report that vehicles were on fire in Honfleur Road.

“Officers attended along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the fires were extinguished with no reported injuries.

“The incident is being treated as suspicious.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/110415/23.