ARSONISTS destroyed a car with flames and smoke spreading to a shop and another vehicle.

Firefighters from Clacton were called to Airwaves His & Hers salon on Beach Road at about 2.45am this morning.

The initial call suggested bin bags had been set on fire but they were then used to create a bonfire.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "On arrival firefighters reported the incident was a car alight which had then spread to another car and a shop front.

"Firefighters worked to extinguish the fires by 3.19am.

"One car has been completely destroyed, another has been smoke damaged and the shop has suffered smoke damage.

"The cause of the fire has been recorded as deliberate and the incident has been passed to the police."