February 5, 2001 17:27: AN AREA notorious for burnt-out stolen cars is stretching the resources of the fire brigade, according to a local fireman.

Sub Officer Doug Horseman, 36, of London fire brigade based in Sidcup, has described the site as a "war zone". The area, adjacent to a caravan site, at the junction of Cookham Road and Old Maidstone Road, near St Pauls Cray is littered with the carcasses of abandoned vehicles, stolen by joy-riders and then set alight.

Last year the fire service was called out to the site on 71 separate occasions, making it by far the most visited area in Bromley.

Sub-officer Horseman said: "It is a war zone. There are burnt out vehicles, and huge piles of rubbish all over the place. There is every chance an accident could happen."