A prison warder's good night sleep turned into a nightmare when he woke up to find his car engulfed in flames in the early hours of yesterday.

Civil protection personnel were called out after the police found the Ford Escort, parked outside 30-year-old Philip Zammit's house in Diamond Jubilee Square, Mqabba, on fire at about 2.30 a.m.

All that was left of the car after the firemen had put out the flames was its metal exterior. The man's garage was covered in soot.

No one was injured in the incident.

The local council condemned the arson attack and expressed its solidarity with the family. It urged the police to catch the perpetrators to put the community's mind at rest.

Similarly, the Justice Ministry said it hoped that investigations, being carried out by the district police, bore results as soon as possible. Duty Magistrate Doreen Clarke is carrying out an inquiry.

This was the second attack in two weeks in the same locality after the door to a house was set on fire.

The arsonist in that incident, Jesmond Cassar, 34, was last week imprisoned for four years and three months by Magistrate Clarke after admitting to a string of crimes, including theft, driving without insurance and relapsing despite a suspended sentence.

Mqabba mayor Noel Galea expressed concern as the villagers, he said, were becoming scared.

"They talk about it and it is highly visible on their faces. Our small community has its roots based on hard work and whatever they own, they sweat hard for it. We can't bear to hear of another attack. "My appeal, not just as mayor but also as resident, goes to the police force. I know that they do a good job but we need to stop these attacks. We have to put those responsible behind bars as an example to others and they have to pay for the damage through community work.

These criminals must realise that this is not a free state and, last but not least, every citizen has his or her rights, mostly to live with total peace of mind."

Between January and July, 59 arson attacks were committed around the islands, 18 of them on vehicles, according to figures supplied by the police. Last year, 36 of the 92 arson attacks involved vehicles.

Factbox

The following are the last 10 arson attacks reported in the media this year.

July 31: A tyre was stuffed with hay before it was set on fire in front of a household shop in Three Churches Street, Balzan.

April 24: A flammable liquid was thrown on the door of a veterinary clinic in Marsascala Road, Żabbar.

April 16: A flammable liquid was poured over the door of Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris's house in Triq Is-Salvatur. Although two cars and a house were extensively damaged, they did not belong to the mayor and were ignited after the arsonist's clothes caught fire.

April 8: Three cars, one belonging to a councillor, were extensively damaged in an arson attack in Day Street, Marsa.

April 1: A sports utility vehicle at Marsamxett Harbour was extensively damaged when it was set alight.

March 25: Two cars and a house belonging to a prison warder were damaged by fire in St Leonard Street, Żabbar.

March 24: A tyre was covered with a flammable liquid before it was set on fire in front of a private residence in Tumas Fenech Street, Qormi.

February 20: A door was set alight in Papaffy Street, Birkirkara.

January 29: A door was ignited in Kileb Street, Mqabba.

January 12: A boathouse exploded after it was set on fire in Seafronts Street, Qawra.