A VAN fire in Witham yesterday evening is believed to have been started deliberately.

Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were called to Rickstones Road, Witham yesterday evening (August 24), after reports of a van on fire.

An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Firefighters were called to a vehicle fire on Rickstones Road in Witham at 6:30pm.

“On arrival, crews reported that a van was on fire and extinguished it by 7:15pm."

Now police say the fire is believed to have been started deliberately, and are appealing for more information.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a vehicle fire in Rickstones Road at around 6.45pm, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

"If you have any information you can submit a report online at www.essex.police.uk or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

"Please quote incident 1011 of August 24.

"You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Witham's firefighters are on-call firefighters who all live or work within 5 minutes of Witham Fire Station.

If you live or work within 5 minutes of Witham Fire Station, you could be paid to protect your community as an on-call firefighter. Find out more at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call.