WOULD-be arsonists attempted to set fire to petrol pumps and wreaked havoc on the forecourt of St Audries Service Station in an early morning attack yesterday (Thursday).

Security cameras captured the 50-minute long incident involving three young men, possibly in their teens.

The culprits smashed three signs and tipped over bins and other items before managing to get a small amount of fuel out of the closed-off pumps.

They then set fire to the fuel which, fortunately, burned for only 20 seconds or so.

The trio then attempted to ignite the fuel nozzles on each pump with cigarette lighters.

The three appeared on the forecourt just after 2am, with the security footage showing them walking off the site towards Williton at about 2.50am.

Service station owner Duncan Litchfield discovered the trail of destruction when he arrived to open up at 5.30am.

"We have got very good security here and the first thing I did was check the footage," he said.

"The three young lads appeared to have been drinking and had what looked like alcohol with them.

"They were smoking and literally prancing around in front of the security cameras.

"The cost of the damage is only about £150 to replace the signs but there is no doubt that they were trying to burn the place down.

"The pumps were closed and they wouldn't have been able to get any more fuel out, but I hate to think what might have happened if they had just kept on trying to set fire to something.

"To say it was dangerous and stupid is an understatement."

Mr Litchfield said his security equipment had produced "very good" images of the culprits and also showed a number of cars passing along the A39 while the incident was ongoing.

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset force confirmed officers were investigating the criminal damage at the service station.

He said police enquiries were continuing and CCTV images were being studied.

"We would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the incident who may have useful information to help our enquiries," said the spokesman.

Anyone able to help is asked to contact Williton police station on the force number 101.