A BUSINESSMAN is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to the successful conviction of arsonists that torched six vehicles across Crewe in less than 45 minutes.

A criminal lawyer believes the arsonists were playing a sick new craze known as ‘car snooker’ – whereby offenders target cars corresponding to each colour ball on a snooker table.

Police are linking the spate of attacks, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 19 May. Seven cars were set alight between 3.06am-3.45am in Coronation Street, Lime Tree Avenue, Hillside Drive, Queen Street and Newfield Drive.

Multiple engines from Crewe and Nantwich attended the fires while a police helicopter circled the area. At one address the fire had spread to a house and completely burned off the front door.

Criminal lawyer and Crewe resident Mark Walklate, 36, said gates should be installed across alleyways in the area, which he suspected the arsonists were using to move around.

“They were escaping down the alleys. It’s a game. Car snooker they call it – they burn out cars according to the colours in snooker and try and get as many cars as they can in a certain amount of time. They stick a cloth in through the engine’s grill and set fire to it.

“A lot of people round here are self employed. Their vans are their livelihoods. The fire brigade were doing their best but they were stretched. They were putting out a fire in one area then having to go up the road.”

Mr Walklate’s father, Jim, who owns a Crewe logistics company, has put up the £500 reward money.

Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Andy Smith said: "The cost of this mindless vandalism may run into thousands, because in some cases their vehicles have been completely destroyed. Those who needed their vehicles for their business have been significantly affected.”

Anyone with any information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 183 of 19 May 2012.Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.