VIDEO captures the moment cars were engulfed by a fire that was started deliberately.

Sussex Police have been asked to investigate the fire in the early hours of this morning at Enterprise Point, Brighton, amid fears it was started on purpose.

The fire service were called to Melbourne Street, off Lewes Road, at 1.33am to reports of the blaze, which involved eight cars.

Resident Ken Scruffles said: “I could smell burning so I looked outside and saw the hugest plume of smoke and then a car alarm I could hear going off.

“I called the fire service but they had already been called and they arrived moments later. They were speedy and so, so good. Great work.

“The local residents near the cars were looking from their windows.

“We could hear some cheering from a few doors down which was slightly upsetting because this was a huge car fire, the biggest we’ve ever seen, and some younger people were almost happy about it.”

Video taken by Mr Scruffles shows the fire engulfing a vehicle amid loud bangs and a billowing cloud of smoke.

He added: “After half an hour or so we didn’t see any flames, just lots of smoke. It was so loud, lots of pops and bangs.”

The Argus:

The East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service believe the blaze was started deliberately and have called in Sussex police to investigate.

A spokeswoman for the service said: “Eight cars were affected by the fire.

“Crews from Brighton attended and used one in seven foam to extinguish the fire.

“The incident was handed over to Sussex Police as the cause of the fire was deemed deliberate.”

Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.