Arson attack causes £1m damage

The area was cordoned off so investigators could examine the scene

An arson attack during which six articulated lorries and five trailers were destroyed on an industrial estate may have caused £1m damage.

After a woman reported hearing explosions on Black Hill Road in Holton Heath, Dorset, firefighters arrived at the scene to find tyres exploding.

The vehicles belonged to the firm AET Transport Services Ltd. No-one was hurt in the fire at 1935 GMT on Saturday.

A trailer and a forklift truck were stolen. An investigation is under way.

It took at least 25 firefighters more than an hour to put the flames out.

'Reports of explosions'

The area was cordoned off so Dorset Fire and Rescue Service investigators and Dorset Police crime scene investigators could examine the scene.

Earlier, Chris Hewitt, from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were guided into the area by the light in the sky, it was quite a significant fire.

"There were reports of explosions.... and we believe they were large tyres exploding.

"There were also tankers with petrol in them and we managed to stop the fire spreading to them."