Burnham 'arson attack' sees mobility scooter and car 'destroyed'

Burnham residents were in shock as the mobility scooter was set alight in the early hours of the morning.

The blaze took hold in Blackwater Close on January 20, also affecting other property belonging to the same homeowner.

It saw the scooter and a car destroyed while fencing and another car suffered damage from the fire.

The owners of the property contacted Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

At first they blamed the cause of the fire on the scooter’s batteries.

However, a spokesman from Essex Fire and Rescue Service said their investigation found the cause to be deliberate.

Impacted - Fencing was also caught up in the fire (Image: Submitted)

They said: “Firefighters were called to Blackwater Close, Burnham-on-Crouch, at 6.08am on Saturday, January 20. 

"On arrival, crews confirmed that it was a fire involving a mobility scooter and one vehicle, which was spreading to a nearby vehicle and some fencing.

"Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire by 7.16am."

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We are investigating a fire that occurred in Blackwater Close, Burnham, between 6.05am and 7am on Saturday, January 20, in which property including two cars and a mobility scooter sustained damage.

"We are treating this as arson and criminal damage and our enquiries continue.

"If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us."

You can let police know by submitting a report on their website or by using their online live chat service available Monday to Friday between 10am and 9pm.

Alternatively, you can call 101 or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555111.

Quote crime reference 42/11317/24.