HOODED yobs are believed to have carried out arson attacks on a caravan and a garage.

The first fire broke out at a garage in Queensway, Southend, after a car caught alight.

Firefighters arrived at 11.10pm Thursday to find the flames had quickly spread to nearby trees and a shed causing widespread damage.

They were then called to a four-berth caravan on fire in Hillcrest Road, Southend, at 1.20am today.

Station Officer Barrie May said: "In the first incident the garage was totally destroyed and the fire was burning fiercely by the time we arrived.

"The caravan was also well alight when crews arrived and it also contained a large amount of the owner's possessions as they had recently moved in and were using the caravan for storage.

"A witness saw a youth with a hood on setting this fire and we discovered that a youth matching the same description had thrown a rock through a window in the house where the car fire had been.

"Previously we had thought the car and garage fire was accidental but when we heard this we flagged both for investigation and are linking the two incidents which are both believed to be deliberate."

The caravan fire had been extinguished by 2am.

A full investigation will be carried out today.