POLICE have called on residents to be vigilant after a number of arson attacks in Bishop Auckland over the Easter weekend.

Over four days, five cars have been found burnt out around the town.

Inspector Martin Peace, from Bishop Auckland police, said: "The cars pose a great danger to residents if they are burnt out near homes.

"There is also a great risk when the car's fuel tank ignites and explodes.

"This is called a flashback and can be extremely dangerous for people who are near the car at the time."

On Friday night, a Vauxhall Corsa was found burnt in a field on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.

On Saturday morning, an MG Rover was found on fire at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club and on Saturday night, a Renault Cleo was burnt out in Toronto.

On Sunday morning, a four-wheel drive was found on the A68 Hilton road, near Barnard Castle. It had been torched. On Sunday night, a vehicle was burnt out in Evenwood.

A Subaru MRT was stolen from Bishop Auckland on Friday night but has not yet been found. Inspector Peace said: "The cars have been stolen at night then set on fire in places where they can't be seen.

"Cars are usually burnt out so they become difficult to identify and it is a way of covering their tracks.

"We are asking residents to be vigilant, these could be malicious attacks."

Police have stepped up their patrols around Bishop Auckland at night to make sure the crime wave doesn't continue.

The inspector said that burnt-out cars were a rare occurrence in Bishop Auckland and that it was a dramatic increase of the crime over the Easter holidays.