A GRANDFATHER says his wife's car could have exploded in a suspected arson attack.

The self-employed saddler now has to drive his care worker wife to work, after her Ford Focus was destroyed in the blaze on Friday morning.

The fire service described the incident, in Dilmore Lane, Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, as 'highly suspicious', according to the husband.

He added: "The car was burnt out. It's a write-off. The steering wheel has melted and there's just the metal frames of the seats left.

"If it went on for a little longer I imagine it could have exploded. She had only just put fuel in it."

The grandfather-of-three, who does not want to be named, said a neighbour originally spotted the blaze and phoned the fire service.

He added: "He heard a couple of bangs and thought it was shooting. He looked out of the window to see what it was and he saw the flames opposite.

"He saw the car on fire and my hedge starting to go."

The 61-year-old said a fireman woke him and his wife up to alert them to the blaze at about 1.15am.

He added that a fire officer said the incident was 'highly suspicious'.

His 18-month-old granddaughter's buggy was destroyed in the fire, along with a booster seat and his wife's driving glasses.

He added: "If it was an arson, they are mindless idiots that didn't think about the repercussions. It's left me feeling annoyed.

"Police said they are going to increase their presence around here now."

The granddad said his 60-year-old wife is not able to drive until she receives her new glasses from the opticians.

He added: "I'm having to ferry her to work and as I'm self-employed that means I can't work."

The saddler added that his wife is also now unable to take their granddaughter to nursery and their grandson to school.

Fortunately, the couple were covered by their insurance and they have put in a claim, although they are not sure how much money they will receive.

The couple said crime in their street has worsened over the last six months, with criminals smashing car windows and spraying graffiti on a wall.

Anyone with information about the suspected arson attack can ring 101 quoting incident number 023s of March 22.