Firefighters stopped a blaze engulfing a row of houses on a Macclesfield road after arsonists torched two cars just metres apart in an early morning attack.

Residents on Newton Street awoke at around 1am to find yobs had set a Renault Espace and a Ford Fiesta alight.

The heat from the fire was so intense that the door and guttering of one of the houses melted and other houses suffered scorch and smoke damage.

Fire crews said two appliances from Macclesfield fire station attended and it took one and a half hours to put the blaze out.

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The two vehicles were completely burnt out and two other cars were were damaged. No one was injured.

Andy Humberstone, Red Watch manager at Macclesfield Fire Station slammed the yobs for putting residents' lives at risk.

He said: "We were called out after two vehicles 30 metres apart on either side of the road were deliberately set on fire.

"We had quite a dangerous situation on our hands as a result as the vehicles were well alight when we got there and the heat was impinging on the row of terrace properties.

"Luckily there were no injuries but before we arrived it was a very hazardous situation for the residents who opened their doors to find half the street ablaze.

"The fire was very intense and a significant amount of heat was coming from it - so much that it damaged the front doors of properties along the narrow road.

"It took about an hour and a half to put the fire out.

"Whoever did this not only committed a criminal act but what they did was reckless and dangerous and put people's lives and homes at risk."

Police say two youths were seen running in the direction of South Park.

Officers are now carrying out house to house inquiries to find out if anyone knows or saw anything more.

Sergeant Andy Burden of Macclefield NPU said it is the third incident like this in the last month in Macclesfield town centre.

He said: "We were called out to a malicious ignition of two vehicles on Newton Road at around 1am. The heat from the fire was so bad there was damage to people's front doors.

"We are now speaking to residents on the road to see if they saw anything that could help with the investigation."

Anyone with information should contact Macclesfield NPU on 0845 4580000.