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Cop cars were doused in petrol after a would-be arsonist targeted a police station in a Christmas Day attack.

The masked offender struck outside Rugeley police station, Staffordshire , at around 5.30am.

Officers smelled petrol and when they went outside saw someone squirting fuel from a washing-up bottle onto several marked police vehicles and nearby floor and pavement.

The offender fled down a track that runs to the rear of the houses on Anson Road.

Staffordshire Police say they were unsure whether the offender was male or female. They are described as of slim build, 5ft 6 inches to 5ft 8 inches tall, wearing black skinny jeans, a black shiny plastic jacket with the hood up. They also had a black and light-coloured patterned covering over the lower half of their face.

It is believed they were aged in their late teens or early 20s.

DS Michelle Banks, investigating the incident, said: “This incident could have been a lot more serious had the officers not smelled the fuel and disturbed the offender.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call 101, quoting incident number 141 of 25 December.