A leading firefighter has warned that people could be killed after petrol bombs were used by Thundersley arsonists to start two fires in less than 24 hours.

Firefighters were called to the Zach Willsher pub in Church Road, Thundersley, after youths threw one of the home-made bombs at a Renault Laguna in the car park at 11.35pm yesterday.

John Packer, leading firefighter at Hadleigh fire station, said: "These actions are criminal. Throwing these petrol bombs could have devastating effects. People could die.

"These things are very dangerous. The car's owners were very upset by what happened. We are treating the fires as suspicious and carrying out an investigation."

It is understood that the vehicle's owners and staff at the pub managed to put out the blaze by the time officers arrived at the scene and crews from Hadleigh fire station spent half an hour making sure the area was safe.

The car only suffered slight damage to the paint work.

Around 23 hours earlier, just after midnight yesterday morning, thugs threw a beer bottle containing a petrol soaked rag at the front of a house in the town's Hart Road.

The bottle smashed against the house's double glazing before landing on the grass outside and the woman homeowner was able to put out the blaze in a few minutes.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "If one of these bombs set fire to something the consequences could be very serious. We would ask anyone with information about any of these fires to get in touch with Rayleigh police on 01268 775533."

Published Tuesday, July 1, 2003

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