HOMEOWNERS have told how they are living in fear after an arsonist struck five times in one night.

Police have launched a manhunt after five separate arson attacks in the Bitterne area of Southampton in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The arsonist torched cars and a property, causing damage running into thousands of pounds.

Now detectives, who are linking the incidents, are urging the public to be vigilant amid warnings that somebody could have been killed.

The weekend spate comes just weeks after arsonists struck in the Townhill area, torching a Mercedes, Mazda, and Fiat Doblo.

But Det Insp Phil Scrase, who is leading the investigation, said it is too early to link them to yesterday’s attacks but he is looking into whether that could be the case.

At around 12.30am, officers were called to reports of a Renault Megane alight in the driveway of a property in Beechwood Gardens.

Firefighters from St Mary’s and Hightown fire stations were sent to the scene before a call of a Citroen Picasso on fire in a driveway in Bullar Road.

Other vehicles targeted included a Vauxhall Movano van, which contained a kitchen worth £7,000, in Macnaghten Road, and a Ford Transit van parked in Nomad Close.

The van’s owner Andy Green said his daughter Jessica, who celebrated her eighth birthday yesterday, was left in tears by the arson.

Mr Green, who uses the van to work for family TV repair firm Les Preston Service Centre in Botley Road, told the Daily Echo: “I was asleep when a couple of neighbours knocked on the door alerting me that the van was on fire.

“It’s frustrating not knowing why this is happening in this area. You don’t know if they are going to go into houses next, which is offputting.

“My daughter Jessica was left in tears – it scared her.

“When I heard the bang on the doors I thought it was only one thing. We are sat here every weekend not knowing if your vehicles are the next to be done.”

Cllr Royston Smith, leader of the city’s Conservative party and ward member for Harefield, said the police and fire service are doing all they can to catch arsonists.

He said: “What should be done if they are caught?

They should be dealt with in the most severe way.

“It’s not just torching someone’s car or dustbin, it’s the residents who are now living in fear waiting for it to happen to them.

“Residents have to be vigilant.”

Det Insp Scrase said there will be an increased police presence in the area over coming days.

He added: “We are not linking the arsons in the past few weeks at the moment but we cannot rule it out.

“We have a team out looking at CCTV, carrying out door to door enquiries, interviewing victims, and carrying out forensics of the scenes.

“These incidents caused considerable damage to property, tied up emergency services for hours and most seriously could have injured or killed someone.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.