Torched transit van destroyed

A Transit van has been left completely destroyed after firebugs torched it in the middle of the night.

Police and fire crews rushed to Cartside Avenue in Johnstone in the early hours of yesterday morning following reports that the grey work van was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters were on the scene at 4am with officers as they tried to control the vehicle blaze - which had been started deliberately by vandals.

The vehicle has been left completely destroyed, with the fire causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Firebugs doused the van in an accelerant on the quiet residential street and set it alight before fleeing the scene.

Police are now hunting those responsible and have urged anyone in the area who may have heard anything during the early hours of May 7 to get in touch.

A Po l i c e S c o t l a n d spokesman said: “I would ask anyone who may have witnessed what happened or any suspicious activity at Cartside Avenue in Johnstone around 4am on Thursday to please get in touch with officers right away.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 4.01am on Thursday, May 7 to reports of a van on fire at Cartside Avenue, Johnstone.

“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene where crews extinguished the flames.

“Crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.