CREWE'S car fire epidemic flared up again as six vehicles were torched over the weekend.

The trouble started on Friday night when youths believed to be behind the attacks went on the rampage, stretching fire service resources as four cars were set alight in under an hour.

The first call came in just after 10pm from an address on Oakley Street, where firefighters found one car well alight.

But as one engine dealt with that incident, reports were received at around 10.45pm of two vehicles on fire in the car park of the Polish Club in West Street, with another blaze on Fallowfield Court reported almost immediately afterwards.

Crewe Fire Station had to deploy its entire fleet of engines and all duty staff to tackle the blazes.

Malcolm Cook, acting club steward at the Polish Club, said the first anyone knew about the fires was when fire engines pulled up.

He said: 'One of the vehicles belonged to a local taxi driver who comes here now and then. He didn't even realise his had been done until he saw the other car.

'His wasn't so badly damaged but the other one, a Toyota Corolla owned by one of our bar girls, was well alight. It is a complete write off.

'People round here are just fed up with it all.

'It doesn't make you feel very safe when you can't park your car anywhere, outside your home or in a private car park, without worrying that it is going to be set on fire.'

Fire crew were again called out just before 1.30am on Saturday, this time to Alexandra Place, scene of several fires in recent weeks.

On this occasion, arsonists had tried to set the car alight but had failed, and instead set about destroying the vehicle by driving into a wall.

Police were called after reports of youths carrying knives in the area.

Finally, just after midnight on Sunday, a Vauxhall Corsa was reported on fire in Broom Street, with investigators again suspecting deliberate ignition.

Police are considering links between the latest spate of fires and previous incidents, indicating that it is probable that the same people were responsible for all five attacks on Friday.

A spokesman said: 'This is part of an ongoing investigation which is receiving a lot of time and effort.

'We are making progress but in the end it will depend on people being prepared to give evidence about what they know.

'Stopping these vandals is a priority issue and it requires action by everyone who can help.'