Arsonists torched 23 cars in a two-hour wrecking spree.

Thousands of pounds' damage was caused as firebugs went on the rampage in Littlehampton and Rustington in the early hours of Sunday.

Mal Janman, 61, of Clun Road, Littlehampton, was woken at 12.30am by a neighbour banging on his door and saw his £15,000 Ford Mondeo on fire.

Mr Janman, a construction engineer, said: "The car was only parked ten yards from the window.

"It's wrecked and can't be salvaged.

"The firemen got two more calls while they were putting out the fire on my car. They were putting fires out and moving straight on to the next one."

A fire brigade spokesman said: "It is only a matter of time before a member of the public or the brigade is seriously injured."