Police are searching for two masked gunmen who set fire to a car in the staff car park of a Birmingham prison.

The pair used an angle-grinder to make a hole in the HMP Birmingham fence just before 1.30pm on Tuesday, then threw liquid over vehicles.

They set light to the car and the blaze immediately spread to other vehicles parked nearby.

The fire service tackled the blaze that left nine cars damaged. The suspects got away in another vehicle.

Detective Constable James Farrell from West Midlands Police said: “Firearms officers were at the prison within minutes, but the offenders had already fled.

“No-one has been injured, but prison staff were understandably alarmed by the incident.

“The motive for the attack is unclear, but we are trawling CCTV to trace the car which made off from the scene.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.