Local residents have described a scene "like a war zone" as police investigate reports of a dozen car fires in the early hours of Monday morning in Dorset.

Emergency services were called out to the scene of multiple fires in Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley areas between 1am and 3am on Monday morning.

Dorset Police is investigating to "identify those responsible" for the fires, which officers said affected 12 vehicles and one property.

Grant Stewart, 33, a builder from Ferndown, described the scene as a "war zone" with people running around in a panic and cars "banging".