Police are searching for two masked gunmen who set fire to a car on the staff car park of Birmingham prison yesterday afternoon.

The pair used an angle-grinder to make a hole in the fence just before 1.30pm to gain access, then threw liquid over a number of vehicles. They set light to them and the blaze immediately spread to other cars parked nearby.

The fire service were quickly on the scene to douse the blaze which left nine cars damaged. The offenders made off in another vehicle. Detective Constable James Farrell from Force CID said:

“Firearms officers were at the prison within minutes, but the offenders had already fled. No-one has been injured, but prison staff were understandably alarmed by the incident.

“The motive for the attack is unclear, but we are trawling CCTV to trace the car which made off from the scene."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.