A weekly newspaper’s trademark van was torched outside its offices in a suspected arson attack.

Detectives have launched an investigation after the van, which bears the logo of the North Devon Journal, was gutted by the blaze.

The attack was caught on CCTV and police are studying footage from the front of the Journal’s Barnstaple office.

The film shows a person attempting to smash a window of the van before making a line of petrol on the floor and lighting it.

The vehicle then explodes into flames and the suspect runs away.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 2.37am on Sunday, and police attended shortly after.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service statement reads: “On arrival crews confirmed the van well ablaze, and got to work with two hose reel jets with two breathing apparatus wearers.

“Police were requested to attend. The van was severely damaged by the fire.”

The van is not used by editorial staff, but is used for merchandising and transporting equipment to the Journal’s presence at events such as the North Devon Journal.

The paper has declined to comment further on the attack.