It looks like something from war-torn Bosnia or downtown in the Bronx.

But this scene of destruction is closer to home.

These four burned out wrecks were spotted in Greater Leys Road, near Minchery Farm, Oxford, this week.

Oxford police have received no reports of the cars being stolen. It is thought they may have been left at the roadside by travellers.

When contacted by the Oxford Mail, the county's fire service was also unable to shed any light on the mystery.

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said the cars had been on land belonging to South Oxfordshire District Council.

She added that an officer would be going out to check that the vehicles were outside the city boundary.

Nobody was available to comment at the district council.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.