A REWARD of £5,000 has been offered for information on the arsonist whose attack on a Harpenden Mercedes dealership caused more than £500,000 damage.

Pinneys in Station Road is offering the money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever set fire to the workshop full of luxury cars on January 15.

Firemen, called by key-holder Mr Andy Carroll, who arrived after an alarm was set off at around 2am, managed to prevent the blaze spreading to the adjoining offices and sales area, but were too late to save most of the 18 cars in the workshop.

Managing director and owner Mrs Katherine Murphy said: "It is the worst thing that could have happened.

"The police say it is definitely arson - that is why we have put the reward up.

"Some of the cars were customers', but most of them were ours.

"Some of them were brand new ones that were being prepared.

"There was an S-class in there, worth on the thick end of £50,000.

"We are covered, and the insurance company has accepted liability.

"The insurance company hasn't assessed in total which cars will be written off, but a large proportion will be. The disruption to our business is the fundamental problem."