ARSONISTS damaged a car after engulfing it in huge orange flames at a popular allotment site, behind a row of homes.

Fire crews rushed to the incident off Sunnedon in Basildon at about 9pm on last night.

Witnesses saw flames rising into the sky behind the properties and say it spread into a woodland area.

A Basildon Council spokesperson said: “‘Basildon Council is aware of the situation. The burnt out vehicle is on the track that leads to the allotments and we are making arrangements to remove the obstruction to council land. “The council will work closely with the fire service and police if and as required.”

A Fire Service spokesman said: "Our crews were called to the fire at 8:54pm in Sunnedon, Basildon. Firefighters extinguished a fire involving an abandoned car. The fire was recorded as deliberate."