THE latest arson attack in Crewe destroyed three companies leaving police desperate to talk to a couple seen on the forecourt prior to the incident.

It was the fourth arson attack in the space of a week after three premises were targeted last weekend and police are now looking at linking the incidents.

The fire took place on Saturday at 9pm when accelerants were poured on tyres piled up at Mr Tread tyre depot before the fire spread to Trade up Motor Company and M&S Autos, wiping out vehicles, offices, and forcing nearby residents to be evacuated as their windows cracked due to the heat.

It took eight fire engines six hours to put the blaze out with Manweb and Transco also called to cut off electric and gas supplies.

But before the fire began, a couple was spotted on the forecourt checking under the bonnet of their car, which is the police's only lead at present.

"We are very keen to speak to this couple not because we think they are responsible but because they may have seen someone nearby," said DC Chris Myers.

The man, who spoke with a local accent, has been described as being in his early 40s, approximately 6ft tall with a stocky build and receding hairline, while the female was about 5ft 5ins tall with dark shoulder length hair.

DC Myers added that things could have been a lot worse had the firefighters' initial concerns been realised.

"They were very concerned about the petrol tanks underneath the forecourt because the site used to be a filling station - the firefighters didn't know whether they had been drained but luckily they had because had that blown half of Hungerford Road would have been taken out."

Anyone with any information should contact Crewe CID on 01270 50022 or confidentially on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.