Redcar dad 'completely floored' after family cars destroyed in suspected arson attack

26 Feb 2014 08:10

Dad-of-four Iain Paton's Vauxhall Zafira and his dad's rare Cavalier - due to be appear in car shows - were destroyed in a fire

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Ian Cooper

Cars destroyed in Redcar arson attack

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A dad was "floored" after two of his family’s cars - including a rare Vauxhall due to be appear in car shows - were torched in a suspected arson attack.

Iain Paton’s Vauxhall Zafira and his dad’s rare Cavalier were destroyed in a fire in the early hours of yesterday.

He discovered the damage when he went to leave his Redcar home just hours after.

“At first I thought the windows had been smashed in but when I went over to have a proper look and saw the shells I just hit the deck,” said the dad-of-four.

“It completely floored me.”

“The Cavalier is my dad’s car - he has had it for 14 years,” he added.

“It was due to be resprayed so we could take it to the National Vauxhall Rally in Northampton and a few other shows.

They are getting quite rare now and the car was one of the last built. You don’t see many on the road now.”

The two cars were parked in a communal car park on Devon Close, near the Paton’s family home.

It is believed that the Cavalier was deliberately torched.

The Zafira - parked next to it - then caught fire as a result.

Fire crews were called to the scene and were spotted by a neighbour tackling the fire at about 4.30am.

It is not yet known what was used to start the blaze.

“I thought I was seeing things at first,” said Iain, who lives with wife Lisa, and children Rachel, 15, Luke, 12, seven-year-old Ryan, and Emily, 15 months.

“I saw that the front end of the Cavalier was all black and that the windscreen was broken.

“I then looked at the Zafira and saw the same thing again.

“They are shells.”

“The Cavalier was the target car,” added Iain, who works for a fleet management company.

“The Zafira has caught fire as a result.”

The Paton’s have now been left without their large family car.

“The Zafira was the family car. That is what we go out in as all together. We have only had it a year.”

“I am in shock,” he added.

“The police have been round and have had a look. Scenes of crime officers are also due to come round.

“I just hope whoever has done this gets caught.”

Cleveland Police are appealing to any witnesses or anyone with information about the suspected arson attack to call them on the non-emergency number 101.