AN ABERGAVENNY woman says she is "gutted" after her car was destroyed in an arson spree.

Care assistant Leanne Warner, aged 20, of St Andrew's Crescent, says she will have to work extra hours to make up for her financial loss.

As reported in yesterday's Argus, her car was destroyed by arsonists outside the home of a friend in Llwynu Lane on Tuesday.

"I'm gutted," she said. "I've just bought a new car for £700 and was selling my Ford Escort for £450 to help pay for it. I don't know how I'm going to manage now."

Ms Warner works part-time as a home carer in Monmouth and needs a car for her job. She says as she is so young it's not worth claiming on her insurance, as following a claim, her premium would just be sky-high.

"It's so annoying," she said. "It will make life a real struggle for me. I've never done anything to anyone. I have to pay my own rent and bills. This has devastated me."

Ms Warner's vehicle was one of three cars targeted by arsonists on the Llwynu estate in the early hours of Tuesday.

Cars in Underhill Crescent and St David's Road were also burnt out as Abergavenny's two fire engines struggled to cope with the blazes set within the space of half an hour.

A Gwent Fire Service spokesman said the fires are being treated as suspicious and initial investigations indicate petrol was used to start the blazes.

Detective Sergeant Ieuan Watkins, of Abergavenny police, re-issued an appeal for witnesses to the fires which happened between 2.09am and 2.42am on Tuesday.

Contact the police on 01873 852273.