A BMW that was set on fire in a recreation ground car park had been stolen from a nearby home, police have said.

Firefighters were called to the Barrow Hills recreation ground car park in Radley near Abingdon at around 8pm on Sunday after a suspected vehicle arson.

It has been confirmed by the police the silver BMW 1 Series had been stolen from an address in Avon Road sometime after 6pm that day.

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Pictures shared with the Oxford Mail show the vehicle had been destroyed by the fire and remained in the car park the following morning (Monday, March 4).

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We are investigating an aggravated vehicle theft in Abingdon on Sunday (March 3).

“Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reported a suspected vehicle arson in Barrow Hills Car Park in Audlett Drive to us shortly after 9pm.

“No one was hurt and the fire service extinguished the fire, but the BMW 1 Series had been stolen from an address in Avon Road sometime after 6pm that day."

Eyewitness Len Lambe said: “My son and I walked there and we could see the flames through the hedges and smoke billowing up.

“It was a surprise, sometimes there is loud music coming from the area when kids gather but it is fairly rare.”

Anyone with information should call 101 or make a report on the police's website, quoting reference number 43240101096.

Alternatively, report information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.