Police are investigating a suspected arson attack after a fire engulfed a car in the parking area of the BP garage in Four Marks last night.

Fire crews quickly put out the blaze, which one witness said began at around 9.05pm, and the police were called at 9.28pm.

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “On-call firefighters from Alton were alerted to a car fire on a petrol station forecourt last night. The crew were called shortly after 9pm to the incident on Winchester Road in Four Marks.

“The area was evacuated and the fuel pumps isolated as firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using hose reel jets. The vehicle was fully destroyed in the fire.

“Police were informed as it was believed the fire was set deliberately. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service left the scene at around 10pm.”

Four Marks resident Corey Howard, who took a picture of the blaze, said: “I was at home and I could hear a horn constantly on in the BP garage, which is a regular thing but only for a short amount of time.

“After what seemed like 30 seconds, the horn was still going. I got up to look out of my window, expecting to see people messing about, and noticed that a vehicle was actually on fire in the petrol station, so I quickly put a coat on and ran outside to see if everyone was ok and if I could help at all.

“On arrival there were not many people around. BP staff quickly evacuated the forecourt and closed off the petrol station, even though people were still trying to get in with a vehicle on fire inside.

“I remained there until the fire brigade turned up, which took 20 minutes - as staff had to get to the station, get kitted up and arrive on the scene - from when my friend Kieran Kelly, who also lives in Four Marks, phoned them.

“Upon arrival the fire brigade got straight to work and had the vehicle put out within minutes. After the vehicle was put out, I believe the police turned up 20 minutes after that, and were knocking on doors asking if we had seen anything.

“I assumed it was a BP worker’s car that had short-circuited - but it turned out no-one knows whose vehicle it was and, the whole time I was there, there was no-one anywhere near the vehicle that you would assume owned it.”

The 24-hour petrol station on the A31 reopened at around midnight. Anyone with information should call the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101, quoting crime reference number 44260015547.