TWO fires which destroyed cars parked in neighbouring streets on the same night are being treated as arson.

Police have issued a fresh appeal for information about the car fires, at Whitworth Terrace in Spennymoor, County Durham, and nearby Lilac Close in Middlestone Moor, on Monday, October 6.

A Citroen C3 sustained extensive fire damage while it was parked on the roadside at Whitworth Terrace at about 8.50pm.

Two hours later, at around 10.55pm, a Suzuki Vitara, parked on the driveway of a house on Lilac Close, was engulfed by flames.

During the blaze, the car’s handbrake melted, causing the vehicle to roll forward and the fire to spread to the front of the house.

Two youths aged around 14 to16 years were seen acting suspiciously in the area at the time and police are calling for anyone with information or who witnessed either fire being started to get in touch.

Detective Constable Jonathan Stoker, of Spennymoor CID, said: “We cannot say for sure that these fires were linked but they were started in neighbouring streets over a short period of time so we certainly can’t rule out that possibility.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Andrea Luck at Spennymoor CID via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.