PEOPLE living near Worcester Crematorium were woken by a loud bang and the shocking sight of a street full of smoke after a suspected arson attack on a van.

Dramatic pictures were taken by startled residents in the early hours of Monday, September 23, as firefighters tackled the blaze.

One man, who called the fire service to the blaze, told the Worcester News: "I heard a bang, the horn blaring and saw a street full of smoke.

"I flew out of bed to see what was going on, I was in such a rush I even had my tracksuit on back to front.

"What a thing to happen outside the cemetery.

"There are some sick people to do something like that, it's stupid that people don't consider others."

He added a lady was crying close to the incident while she was holding one of her babies in her arms.

Police were called around 20 minutes later after firefighters and residents suspected the fire was started deliberately, and officers are now treating the incident as arson.

An eyewitness who lives nearby said he was woken in the early hours to the sound of vehicle horns blaring.

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He later discovered the street was full of smoke.

The man said he saw a white van on fire right outside Worcester Crematorium's gates and phoned the emergency services.

The fire crew was called to Spawley Meadow at 1.52am to deal with the van, which was well alight.

The blaze was extinguished by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using a hose reel jet.

Firefighters were dealing with the fire for around 100 minutes.

A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "A Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crew from Worcester Fire Station was called at 1.52am on September 23 to a large vehicle on fire in Spawley Meadow, Worcester.

"A large van was well alight and extinguished by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using a hosereel jet.

"A thermal imaging camera was also used. There were no casualties but police also attended due to suspected arson.

"The incident was marked as pending closure at 3:31am."

A West Mercia Police spokesperson added: "We were called to Spawley Meadow at around 2.10am this morning following a report of a vehicle fire. 

"The incident is being treated as arson and enquiries are ongoing."