Police are investigating a series of car burnings at the Open Fields Caravan Site at Bringsty.

Bromyard's beat manager PC Richard Shakespeare compared the site to "the road to Basra during the Gulf War", following the recent spate of burnings.

On Monday this week, three vehicles were gutted and a fourth, a blue Sirocco, was "stuffed full" with polystyrene and had a mattress on the roof, as though it had been prepared by someone for burning.

Three weeks ago, according to Herefordshire Council records, the official 14-pitch site was 80 per cent full, which means 11 slots were taken. By Monday, only six were still officially occupied.

Police, who have been carrying out forensic tests on the burnt cars this week, say that "only a few people" now remain on site.

PC Shakespeare said: "This nice caravan site has being turned into a dumping ground for people who burn vehicles out. It's horrendous.

"We don't know who is doing it and we are appealing for witnesses. It's become so bad that most of the travellers have moved off. None have complained. They have voted with their feet. That speaks for itself."

PC Shakespeare said that none of the burnt-out vehicles were registered as being stolen, but police have not been able to identify the owners.

He said: "They are auctioned and sold-on vehicles."

Stuart Gent, Herefordshire Council's head of property services said that "families did move off last week" but he said that was "for domestic reasons, not due to the burning of vehicles".

He added: "Travellers are semi-nomadic. They do move on."

But Mr Gent said that the burning of vehicles on the site was "very distressing".

He said: "It puts the people who reside there at considerable risk.

"We await to find out exactly what the police investigations reveal."

Anyone with information should contact Herefordshire Police on 01432 276 422.