A MAN has described hearing vehicles "exploding" in a car park behind his garden during what is thought to have been an arson attack.
The fire at the back of the Aston Court Hotel, in Midland Road, Derby, damaged six cars and is believed to been started deliberately, according to the fire service.
The incident happened at around 5.30am yesterday.
Matt Wrigley, 26, of Midland Place, said: "I could first of all hear a car alarm going off, then five minutes later I got up to see a car on fire. Then I heard this loud explosion which was bigger than fireworks.
"There were four or five separate explosions and I called the fire service straight away.
"I thought it was probably arson because who starts a fire outside at that time?
"It's very bizarre and there is no reason for it to happen.
"I saw three cars on fire, from what I could see. It's very strange and random for that time of the morning. They were a few metres high in deep flames.
"The people responsible need to be in trouble for it. This goes much further than obviously jut a bit of shouting I sometimes hear.
"I don't want this just behind my garden."
Barrie Grimward, 54, of North Wales, was staying at the hotel and his BMW was damaged in the incident.
He said: "At 5.30am I heard loud bangs and I wondered what the hell was going on. I could not believe what I could hear, and I was staying at the front of the hotel.
"Both of the car door handles have been melted and so have the panels between the two doors.
"I have no idea how I'm going to get home. It's a company car. But at least we are all safe.
"Nobody deserves this, it's just a mindless act. I don't know why they would do it, they must have some agenda known only to them."
Hotel manager John Rowland was at home in Five Lamps when he got a call about the incident early yesterday.
He said: "I'm very shocked and I find this quite disturbing. We obviously do not want this at these premises.
"It is concerning and we will obviously take steps to see how we can make incidents like this less likely in the future.
"I'm very upset and concerned. It's really bad and obviously does not reflect well on the area.
"We have had no issues at the hotel in the past in terms of upsets to suggest this would happen.
"I will help the police in any way I can to find out what has happened. This is not normal and is truly shocking. I will take this very seriously."
Derbyshire police have launched an appeal for people who were in the area at the time to call them with any information on 101.
