SCRAP cars were destroyed when a vandal set fire to a partly dismantled vehicle at a breakers' yard and the flames spread to three others.

A security guard on duty at the business saw the commotion and managed to get several nearby cars clear before trying unsuccessfully to tackle the blaze with fire extinguishers.

He called 999 and two fire engines from Bolton Central Fire Station were sent to deal with the situation at the yard off Raikes Lane in Bolton at 11.45pm yesterday.

Watch manager Tony McKenna said: "A car had been set on fire and it spread to three others.

"There's always the possibility a fire to spread if cars are in close proximity.

"It involved four cars - three Vauxhall Astras and one Vauxhall Vectra. They were all lined up.

"They had been partly dismantled and had had their engines taken out.

"The security guard who was on duty noticed flames and managed to move a couple of cars away but unfortunately the damage was done to four cars.

"Before we got there the guard had tried to suppress the fire with a couple of wall-mounted fire extinguishers but the fire had grown too much and quite rightly he phoned us and waited for us."

The eight-strong band of firefighters were on scene for about an hour dousing the fire, which had in part taken hold due to the tiny amounts of residual petrol and oil inevitably found in scrap cars.

The crews were able to prevent other scrap vehicles from catching alight, however, and no-one was injured in the incident.

None of the burned out cars had batteries in them so an accidental electrical fault has been discounted as a cause.

Mr McKenna said: "We suspect deliberate ignition.

"There is CCTV and the police are investigating further."