CARS being dumped and torched at a local recreation ground have prompted police to step up their patrols. In the last few weeks there have been three separate cars set alight on the land adjacent to Toulmin Drive in the New Greens estate in St Albans. An

CARS being dumped and torched at a local recreation ground have prompted police to step up their patrols.

In the last few weeks there have been three separate cars set alight on the land adjacent to Toulmin Drive in the New Greens estate in St Albans.

And a St Albans firefighter who has been called out to the scene on a number of occasions said there were other burnt-out vehicles in the woods there.

The last incident happened just before midnight on Monday when firefighters found a car well alight and the flames spreading to a nearby shed.

Firefighters were also called to the same place on Sunday, August 17, and on Wednesday, August 13, when a relatively-new Range Rover had been torched.

At least two of the vehicles dumped this month had been stolen but not necessarily from within the local area.

In July a motorbike was set on fire and another two burnt out cars were discovered in the woodland during March.

A police spokesperson said that the neighbourhood team were aware of the car fires and were working with other agencies such as St Albans District Council to resolve to problem.

He said the community team had changed their hours of patrolling and had put out more patrols in a bid to resolve the situation and find ways to stop vehicles being driven onto the playing fields and into the woods.