THE number of abandoned vehicles in Worcester has more than trebled in five years - blighting one community in particular.

Firefighters have tackled six car fires in Brickfields' King George V Playing Fields within the past 24 days.

They have delivered leaflets to more than 350 houses in the area, giving safety advice and warning about the dangers posed by torched vehicles.

Two burnt-out Vauxhall Novas still litter the site, one next to a children's playground and one on a football pitch.

"It has become a real problem, because the fire engines cannot reach the middle of the pitches and we have to roll out yards of line to tackle the fires," said Hereford and Worcester Fire Service spokesman Alec Mackie.

"If people see anything suspicious, we'd like them to immediately contact the police. Virtually all the latest incidents have occurred between 8.13pm to 8.37pm."

Between April, 1998, and March, 1999, the city council dealt with 255 abandoned cars. In the same period this year, there were 912.

June Howard, a store supervisor at the Brickfields Road One Stop shop, said it was a regular problem in the park.

"There's always been cars abandoned here. It's normally one or two a month but, in the past few weeks, it's just become ridiculous."

Paul Muzyka, of Fairfield Close, who regularly walks his dog on the fields, said even a bicycle had been burnt in the park.

"Unfortunately, these people can get into the park easily. They just use wire-cutters and bend the fence back," he said.

Worcester police spokesman Richard Bull said the four most recent cases had involved stolen cars.

Tim Allen, of Worcester City Council's operational team, said the park's security measures were being reviewed.

"We're aware that there's a problem and we're looking at our locks and the fences which surround the park," he said.