Flames swept through part of a garage forecourt, destroying two cars and damaging another in a suspected arson attack on two businesses in Telford.

Thousands of pounds’ damage was caused by the intense heat which blistered paint and melted the interior of cars at Simply the Best Valeting and Williams Brothers Autos in Wrockwardine Wood.

Check out our photo gallery below

Firefighters from Wellington Fire Station attended after the alarm was raised at 11.30pm yesterday.

Shaun Williams, who runs the valeting business in Plough Road, today said it looked like a “bomb site” and that if firefighters had not arrived so quickly the whole premises could have gone up in flames.

He said he had been forced to shut his business today but was re-opening tomorrow.

Mr Williams, 33, said two cars belonging to the garage were destroyed and a Range Rover belonging to one of his customers, which had only been bought from an auction that day, was written off.

He said: “I got a knock on my door at 11.50 last night. I was asleep. A gentleman who lives opposite me knocked on the door and said the garage was on fire.

“A Fiat Punto and a Vauxhall Astra were completely burnt out.”

Mr Williams said forensic officers had been to the scene. He believed the fire had been started in the Fiat Punto and spread to the other vehicles.

“No-one saw anything in particular, they just heard muffled bangs and all the people came out from their homes on to the street.”

He appealed for anyone with information to contact Telford police on 08457 444888 and added: “I don’t know why they have done this. They have got no consideration for the safety of people.”

The owner of the garage, Neil Williams, is currently on holiday in Cornwall.

His business was previously targeted in 2006 when vandals caused £10,000 damage to 25 vehicles. A fire extinguisher was set off and cars in the garage and on the forecourt had windows smashed, tyres slashed and were daubed with paint.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said today they had received a call about midnight about the latest fire.

He said: “The circumstances of how the fire started are believed to be suspicious. Police are investigating.”

By Lisa Rowley