A CAR was left seriously damaged in a “petrol bomb” arson attack outside a home in Pitsea in the early hours of the morning.

Essex Fire Service has confirmed the fire, inside a Nissan Juke, was started deliberately on Wednesday morning.

Residents claimed they were told by firefighters a “petrol bomb” had been used.

The car, parked in Mill Green, was burnt out on the inside, with all of its windows smashed and the windscreen charred.

Neighbours rushed into the street as the car went up in flames at roughly 12.49am.

One father-of-two, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The fire service told me it was a petrol bomb that caused it.

“Everyone came out and the fire service broke the windows of the car.

“The fire did a lot of damage and I can’t imagine what the owners are feeling at this time.

“I think it’s dreadful that someone can do something like this.”

Another neighbour, a mumof-three, also spoke of her shock.

She said: “I saw the fire engines and people standing in the street.

“I saw about it on social media too and I think it’s terrible and is worse at this time of year when people should be looking forward to a new year.

“I hope the owners are not too inconvenienced and I really hope the police catch who did this and deal with them appropriately.

“We can’t have people going about doing things like this.”

Angry residents took to social media to post about the incident, with one claiming they “cannot have nice things any more”.

A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said: “Firefighters extinguished a vehicle fire in Mill Green, Pitsea early on Wednesday morning.

“The fire service were called to the fire at 12.49pm.

“Firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire by 1.15am.

“The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.”

It is believed that the car was parked outside the owner’s home at the time of the incident.