A GROUP of youths allegedly stole a vehicle and then set it on fire in Badsey.

The Worcester News understands a group stole a mobile phone from a milkman delivering in Badsey, who gave chase and confronted the youth with the phone, managing to wrestle it back off him.

This happened at 5.20am, and a short time later, at around 6am, the same group were seen driving up and down Badsey Lane in a stolen silver Citroen Car with a flat tyre by people setting up the Knowle Hill car boot sale.

The youths then drove the vehicle into a cornfield nearby, setting it on fire before leaving.

Firefighters from Evesham attended and managed to extinguish the car and field before the fire spread.

A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said "We were called out at 6.44am to Burcot Lane to a car on fire.

"One crew of four firefighters attended and the incident was over by 8.57am."

PC Paul Buffery said: "This is in relation to a offence of robbery. The suspects left the scene in the vehicle which was then driven to Evesham on the West Mercia Police area and set alight.

"The vehicle was stolen previously from an address in Gloucestershire."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.