A SPATE of suspected arson attacks on cars and trucks in the St Austell area have raised serious safety concerns.

Firefighters have been called to three car fires over the last week and on Sunday they had to deal with two pick-up trucks on fire at the industrial park on Morven Road.All the blazes are suspected to be arson and police are now investigating the incidents, although none are directly linked at this stage.

Police spokesman WPC Abi Clement said: "Fires of any nature, especially with cars, are very dangerous - the risk to passing people is extremely high."

Sunday's fires, where trucks were found ablaze outside Cornwall Pump and Motor Rewinds, worried firefighters because of their proximity to nearby properties. Two fire crews from St Austell were called to the fire just after 11pm and quickly tackled the blaze, using specialist breathing equipment, to stop the blaze spreading to nearby industrial units.

Earlier on Sunday, at 6.30pm, firefighters from St Austell also had to deal with a car fire on Trenowah Road, Tregrehan, near St Austell.

Last Tuesday, at 3am, firefighters had to deal with a car fire on Drummers Hill, Scredda, St Austell. Just three hours before this they had put out another car ablaze on Moorland Road.

Cornwall fire brigade spokesman Andy Taylor said: "Arson is now the largest single cause of major fires in the UK - and it is on the increase. At its worst, arson leads to loss of life and significant financial damage."

WPC Clement urged anyone with information about any of the suspected arson attacks to contact the police on 08452 777444.