Police are investigating an arson attack which gutted a classic MGB sport car owned by a Southend hotel owner.

Ron Fidgeon's pride and joy went up in smoke after a crook torched the car parked outside the Regency Hotel gates.

The arsonist was captured on the hotel's CCTV video which has been handed over to fire investigators.

Upset Mr Fidgeon, who runs the hotel in Royal Terrace, said: "The car was destroyed. "

The fire at 2.20am happened on Tuesday four hours after a suspicious blaze at the Burger King fast-food outlet on Queens Road off the High Street.

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