MOTORISTS are “playing with fire” by parking in a city centre lane, according to residents.

Firebugs last night targeted cars in Buccleuch Lane for the fourth time in 12 months.

The latest incident happened around 12.30am, prompting five fire fighters to rush to the scene and extinguish the blaze.

A car was torched damaging a nearby van in the process along with a wooden door backing on to residents’ gardens.

In June another car was torched and just days before Christmas a vehicle exploded in the lane.

Read more: Police probe launched after firebugs target car in secluded city centre lane

The thoroughfare has been a source of problems for locals for years, and they previously urged the council to step in.

They have now warned motorists against using the lane and renewed calls to the council for help in making it secure,

Signs displayed at either side of the Garnethill lane indicate parking is not allowed, however motorists who do use it are not penalised.

The path is in such a state of disrepair the council say it is unable to lay down double yellow lines until locals pay to fix its condition.

Bill Beckett, member of Garnethill Community council said: “This is getting beyond a joke. It’s like a mini Beirut. People are playing with fire by parking here.

"We need help to stop this before someone is seriously hurt.

"Most people living here have no money to pay for the repair of the whole lane, most people here are students or pensioners. This is now the fourth time this has happened in about a year, it needs to stop."

Local Labour councillor Philip Braat has also expressed concern and said: “I would certainly be urging the council to make approaches to the owners, as the answer lies with them.

Read more: Police probe launched after firebugs target car in secluded city centre lane

"The bottom line is, the lane is not adopted [by the council] so the state of the lane is so poor that there isn’t a way of putting yellow lines down.

"As it is not adopted there are no enforcement powers.

"The only way forward is to use some form of restricted parking zone in the lane itself. It may need to be a unique solution for that area as it is usually for roads, not lanes."

A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters used a high pressure hose to extinguish the vehicle on fire.

Read more: Police probe launched after firebugs target car in secluded city centre lane

“This incident was handed to colleagues in Police Scotland and our crew left around half-an-hour later after they had made the scene safe.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Around 00.35 on Tuesday August 16 2016, police received a report of a car on fire in Buccleuch Street, Glasgow.

“A joint investigation is currently underway between police and fire services to establish the cause of the fire.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Stewart Street CID on 101.”