A fire started at a car wash in a car park in Ipswich town centre has caused “serious damage” to the business. 

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a fire in the Tacket Street car park just before 9pm on Monday.

One engine from Princes Street attended the incident which was at Jeeyes Hand Car Wash.

The fire caused a large cloud of smoke with photographs showing bin bags alight near the business.

Rakawt Shirif who works at the car wash said the fire had caused “serious damage”.

Mr Shirif said: “It is so serious. This fire is going to cost a lot of money. The window at the back is also broken and we will have to fix the electrics.”

He added that nobody had got hurt and the emergency services had arrived very quickly.

Mr Shirif’s friend sent him a video of the emergency services putting out the fire where a trolly can be seen burning along with several bags to the left of the building, with the flames surrounding the electrical supply of the facility.

Officers were also called to reports of an arson incident in Cox Lane at 9.17pm and upon arrival discovered items in a trolley had been set a light. 

Both calls are being treated as the same incident and investigations are ongoing. 

No arrests have been made with a police spokesman reporting a group was seen running from the area.

Councillor John Cook, a ward councillor for Tacket Street, said: “I’m very sorry to hear about this fire but I understand there’s a police investigation and I’d call on anyone who has any information that might help with the enquiries to go and speak to the police about it.”

Anyone who has any information should contact Suffolk police quoting crime reference number 37/26642/24.