Paisley family horrified as Golf GTI destroyed in…

Paisley family horrified as Golf GTI destroyed in 'arson attack' outside their home

A car melted in a suspected arson attack outside a Paisley family's home last night.

Labourer Mark Irving says the Mk4 Golf GTI was torched around 11pm as he watched TV with his wife just metres away.

The 54-year-old bought the motor for his son Robert and they had been working to upgrade it to showcase at car shows, spending £2,000 over the last two years, the Paisley Daily Express reports.

And after the 24-year-old passed his driving test a few weeks ago, he was looking forward to trying it out.

Mark explained: "My boy has just passed his test before Christmas and I was going to let him have a shot of it in the summer but it's done. You'll see, everything's melted in it.

"Me and the wife were sitting watching the telly and I saw yellow lights from the window but I thought it was just the lights from the gritters going up the road again.

"My dog didn't notice anything either. Then a while later, I saw the orange glow coming through the window and shining on the wall, so I've got up to take a look and I've seen the car ablaze and I've got up quickly to get me, the missus, and the dog out of the house."

The couple waited outside for the fire brigade to arrive. They took less than 10 minutes to appear and swiftly set about extinguishing the blaze. It was too late to salvage the car, though, which had been completely destroyed.

Mark says it's a miracle the vehicle didn't explode as it had a half-tank of petrol in it and added: "The fire was lit on the side with the petrol tank, so I'm surprised it didn't go bang."

Mark didn't see anybody acting suspiciously in the area at the time and he has no idea why his vehicle was targeted. It's believed multiple vehicles were targeted last night, including in the town's Hollows Avenue.

"I stay across from some woodland," Mark said. "You know what people are like, there could have been somebody standing there in the woods, having set the fire and waiting to watch the fire brigade."

Officers confirmed they have launched a probe into the incident, which came after another vehicle was targeted on nearby Foxbar Road earlier in the night.

Police say a man was seen acting suspiciously near a number of cars on the street and they are appealing for information.

Detective Constable Rebecca Daily of CID in Paisley said : "We received a report of a vehicle on fire around 10.20pm in Foxbar Road in Paisley and then around 11pm another report of a vehicle fire in Talisman Road.

"Our enquiries have revealed that a man was seen to act suspiciously near to a number of cars in Talisman Road.

"I would appeal to anyone who know was in the area and witnessed anything to come forward and contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 3898 of January 23."