A Devizes couple have spoken of their terror on the night their limited edition classic car was set on fire in front of their house.

Jonathan and Tracey New-man, who live close to Wiltshire Police headquarters on London Road, were woken by the noise of the attack in the early hours of Sunday, October 7.

Mrs Newman, who is heavily pregnant with the couple’s second child, said: “I heard a bang shortly after 2am and thought it was the usual Saturday night vandalism.

“I got up and looked out of the window and saw flames coming from Jonathan’s car.”

Mr Newman ran downstairs and found the 1989 Peugeot 205 GTI well alight. It is believed that gas bottles were placed under the car and set alight.

Mrs Newman said: “The police turned up as I was phoning the fire brigade. They told us to evacuate the house, but we couldn’t get out of the front door because of the flames.”

The Newmans gathered up their three-year-old son, Harry, and went out onto the back lawn until fire officers told them it was safe.

Mr Newman, manager of the City Plumbing building supply company on Nursteed Road, said: “It was quite traumatic. We haven’t got over it yet.

“We haven’t slept properly since, knowing there’s someone out there prepared to put our lives in jeopardy. Every small noise from the street gets us up out of bed, looking to see what else is happening.”

Mrs Newman said it has also had an impact on Harry.

She said: “He talks about fires all the time and all his play is about fires. He picks up on our stress and upset.”

The limited edition Peugeot 205, which was written off in the attack, was Mr Newman’s pride and joy. He said: “I spent months rebuilding it and I must have spent £20,000 doing it up. It is normally in the garage and the only reason it was on the drive was because I was putting it on the market.

“There have been lots of comments on the Peugeot owners’ website about it. People all over the country are talking about what happened to my car, saying how dreadful it was.”

A 35-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Police have appealed for anyone who was in the London Road area early on October 7 to contact local crime investigator Debby Homer on 101, extension 728633 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.