Arsonists torched several cars within 100 yards of each other in the early hours of Friday.

Fire-fighters were called to Cross Lane and Bisley Close, Royston, at 2.15am to discover vehicles including a Land Rover, Mondeo, Astra and Toyota Celica, ablaze.

Joyce Devonport, of Cross Lane, lives next door to one of the victims and described the scene as like 'a war zone'. "The fire was up to our bedroom windows", she said.

Brenda Easby and her daughter Caroline's cars were both torched. Brenda, 66, of Cross Lane, said she hadn't heard anything until a friend from across the road rang her.

"I don't know if I'll be able to sleep again. We've been lucky because all the guttering has melted."

Brenda moved one of the cars away from the wooden fence outside her house. "I feel sick. Not only is it upsetting, it's time consuming having to sort the cars out and get hire cars.

"My daughter said that's the best car she's ever had." She said one woman told her she saw two men running away.

Three cars were fired on Bisley Close. Zoe Waddington, 22, lives with her partner and two toddler children.

They were woken by neighbours Joanne Bailey and Wayne Nordon who spotted the back ends of their car and Land Rover Discovery on fire.

Zoe added: "If it wasn't for the neighbours we would have been dead because there is a gas pipe that goes straight up the side of our house." My first thought was the children and to get them out of the house."

Joanne and Wayne, also of Bisley Close, had fallen asleep on the sofa and spotted the fire when they woke up to go to bed. Another couple whose car was torched are away on holiday.

Russell Greenfield, of Cross Lane, was woken by Marie Teal, also of Cross Lane, who called the fire brigade when she saw his wife Karen's Jaguar on fire. Russell, 47, a printer, said: "When my wife's father died, we bought the car with her inheritance money so it's sentimental. We're going to try and get it repaired." They spent £900 on a new clutch a few weeks ago.

The attacks are the latest in a number of arson incidents.One neighbour said a car was set on fire on Midland Road a few weeks ago and that a woman nearby had a wheelie bin pushed up to her house and set on fire.

Fire crews from Cudworth and Royston worked to prevent the fires spreading from driveways to houses.

They left the scene at 3am.