A COLCHESTER family are scared to leave their home after a car in their street was torched in a suspected arson attack.

The family – who live near Berechurch Hall Road and asked not to be named for fear of reprisals – said the attack in the early hours of Sunday was the latest in a long period of trouble.

The mother said: “We live in the area and my daughter heard a huge bang followed by another.

“We got up and looked through the bedroom window where a car was ablaze.

“There has been an ongoing problem in the neighbourhood.

“We have been going on about having lights fitted, and we want CCTV, but realise we are probably not in a position to get it.”

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed at about 2am a yellow Ford Escort was set on fire.

Surrounding fences and a shed also caught fire and Colchester’s firefighters were called.

The incident is being investigated by the police.

The mother said: “The whole thing went up in flames.

“It is scary to see this in the early hours of the morning.

“Fences and a shed also went up and now my daughter is terrified of leaving me here when she goes away.

“We are terrified to go out or be named because then we may be targeted.

“We need someone to take notice and do something about it.”

The family said it was not the first arson or incident of vandalism and hoped the culprits would be caught and more security would be added to the area.

A police spokesman said if the family knew of other incidents, they would like to hear from them.