A VAN used by a Boscombe community group has been torched in a terrifying arson attack.

Firefighters and police were called to a property on Wharncliffe Road at 3am on Saturday after a converted ambulance – used to help transport volunteers who clean beaches and provide safety training to children – went up in flames.

The brightly decorated vehicle, known as the Bob Mobile, was purchased by ward councillor Chris Wakefield three years ago to carry community mascot Boscombe Bob.

The character is a well known face in the area who educates children and promotes good causes.

Cllr Wakefield has spent £5,000 of his own money on the project and the van was being kept in a private off-road parking space owned by a friend, an elderly widow, who was woken abruptly by the sound and smell of burning.

“It would be terrifying enough if this had happened to me and my family – but for it to happen to this lady – it is terrible,” he said.

“She was scared and very concerned, but when I spoke to her she was more concerned about her neighbours – she is a really lovely lady.”

Cllr Wakefield added that as the van was off-road for the winter it was uninsured and all Boscombe Bob events will now be cancelled.

“Whoever it was must have known exactly what it was and what they were doing,” he said.

“People know that I own it and am associated with Bob.

“I can take all the verbal abuse but this is an attack on my community group.”

After fire crews extinguished the blaze, the owner of the property returned to bed, only to find rubbish had been set alight outside her backdoor at around 6.30am in another arson attack, which she put out with a bucket of water.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said there have been a string of similar attacks on bins, cars and properties on the stretch of road in the last two years.

“I am getting so used to the sound of fire I knew exactly what it was when I heard it,” she added. “I am really getting very scared.”

Dorset Police said the attacks are “subject to an ongoing investigation” and Dorset Fire confirmed the cause is believed to be “deliberate ignition”.