A gang of crazed car criminals scorched back to their former haunt on a troubled Harold Hill estate, leaving a trail of torched vehicles in their wake.

A van, five cars, and a motorbike were totally destroyed by fire on Clematis Close on the Briar Road estate at around 5am on Sunday, while another van and a car were damaged.

Four fire engines battled for half an hour to contain the blaze.

The attack comes as particularly bad news for police, after the car crime trouble shooters of Operation Arrow succeeded in reducing motor vandalism and theft on the Briar Road estate and Harold Hill generally .

Sgt Mick Walford said: "It is unclear whether one car was set alight and in turn set the others alight, or whether several attempts were made to set fire to the others."

The fire is certain to provide added ammunition for residents who are fed up with the estate's car vandalism problems and have been demanding Havering Council improve security, including the installation of CCTV cameras.

They claim the estate is a haven for criminals as they can flee easily within its labyrinth of dimly lit alleys and closes.

The security issue is certain to come to a head at the next area neighbourhood housing committee.

But Cllr Denis O'Flynn said: "CCTV is not for serious consideration at the Briar Road estate as it is very expensive and the estate was not designed to accommodate it."

Burnt out: some of the vehicles that were set alight.

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