A "SEVERE" fire, thought to have been started by arsonists, destroyed a 30ft cabin cruiser worth £20,000 at Stourport Marina.

Firefighters were called out shortly after 3am on Sunday and spent nearly three hours tackling the blaze.

Police are investigating and believe the fire, which caused 75 per cent damage - writing off the cruiser, which was in storage at the marina - was the work of arsonists.

Two appliances from Kidderminster and one from Stourport used jets and firefighters needed breathing apparatus to tackle the flames.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The cruiser had been in storage for some time and was well alight by the time we got there. It was a severe fire.

"There was no logical reason why it would have caught fire."

Marina owner Robert Dalton said he suspected youngsters were to blame for the fire, adding: "Whether it's because the kids are on holiday, I don't know."