Heroic neighbours sprung into action and used buckets of water and hoses to put out a blaze which engulfed trees in a "40ft fireball".

The "serious blaze", which fire crews have said was arson, was started in Pennycroft Park in Uttoxeter on Saturday evening, June 30.

It is thought flames spread to the trees from a tent that had been set alight at the popular Uttoxeter recreation ground.

The fire spread to land backing onto the park, owned by Ashmore's Ice Cream.

Company boss John Ashmore and his staff took action when they "heard crackling" from their dairy nearly an acre away.

The aftermath of the arson attack

He said: "My daughter went outside to look and a huge fireball went up - it was a fir tree igniting.

"Thank God our neighbours came down and joined the eight workers and family members we had there with hoses and buckets.

"The trees burned out pretty quickly at the top, but it would have been a lot worse if everyone hadn't taken action as quickly as they did.

"It also burned some of the bushes in the park and I think it could have spread across the park without everyone working together.

"Everyone was absolutely brilliant and I'd like to thank the fire service for dampening down the flames.

"They also extinguished a plastic park bench that had been moved there and was emitting horrible fumes."

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were called at 7.48pm to Pennycroft Park, in Park Street, Uttoxeter, on Saturday, June 30.

"One crew from Uttoxeter attended. The incident involved a fire in a woodland area and trees had caught fire.

"It was started by deliberate ignition. Crews left the scene at around 9.10pm."

Park Street residents putting out the blaze

Mr Ashmore said the tent had been there about a week and it had been reported to East Staffordshire Borough Council, which runs the park, and Staffordshire Police.

He now has a £500 repair bill for his fence, on which he had already spent £150 when it was damaged the previous week.

Mr Ashmore has also lost four fir trees that had taken 11 years to grow.

A council spokesman said: "The Rough Sleepers Outreach Team and Council Civil Enforcement Officers have visited Pennycroft Park several times since the tent was first reported, but have been unable to locate the occupant of the tent.

"If the occupant had been located the team would have tried to engage with the rough sleeper and offer assistance to move them into alternative accommodation."

Staffordshire Police have been approached for a comment.