DETECTIVES are investigating a late night blaze in Greenock's west end which gutted three parked cars.

The incident at 4.30am yesterday in Robertson Street and is being probed by CID officers.

A Peugeot went up in flames and the blaze spread to two other vehicles.

Officers are trying to establish if the cars were torched.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff of Greenock CID said: "A Peugeot 1007 motor vehicle has been set on fire or has caught fire and that spread to two other vehicles parked adjacent to it.

"Enquiries are continuing to establish the cause of the fire and whether it was wilful or not.

"Anybody with information is asked to phone the police on 101."

Two of the vehicles were left charred wrecks while the other was extensively damaged.

One resident said she woke up to the sound of a loud bang and was shocked to see the three cars on fire.

She said: "I heard a bang and when I looked out I could see flames flickering off the wall opposite my home.

"I immediately phoned the fire brigade."

A spokeswoman from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that one fire crew from Greenock attended the blaze after they received several calls about it.

She said: "We received numerous repeated calls about three private cars on fire.

"One appliance from Greenock attended the scene."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious is urged to phone the police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.