A group of allotment owners were left horrified to find their belongings in flames and a chicken killed after a suspected arson attack in Hook.

The shed owners, believed to have included a 95-year-old man, visited their allotments in Hook Road on Sunday morning, only to find that four sheds had been set alight.

One owner told this website a chicken was also killed in the attack.

Firefighters from Surbiton soon arrived and battled to put out the flames and an arson investigation has since been launched by police.

One shed owner, who did not want to be named, said: “There was a young lad trying to get out of the gate and I said ‘he looks a bit suspicious’ to my husband.

“He legged it up the back and up the path and just went. Then we could see that two of the sheds were on fire.

“I’m sad for our neighbours because they’re both retired and their income is low. They lost all their tools.”

She said she was keeping plant food, chemicals and tools in the shed before it was gutted by the fire, while neighbours’ greenhouse were destroyed.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: “We were called to investigate whether there was a still a fire in Hook Road.

“Three sheds were totally damaged and one was 75 per cent damaged.”