THE charred wreck of a car rests upside down against a lamppost after late-night mayhem on an estate dubbed "Little Beirut".
Yobs are said to have set the motor ablaze - then ambushed emergency workers as they arrived on the scene in Hemlington, Middlesbrough.
5
The charred remains of a vehicle sat resting against the lamppost yesterday Credit: Evening Gazette 5
Witnesses claim the car was set alight after it smashed into the pole Credit: Teesside Live 5
Dramatic pictures show the aftermath of a late-night smash in Middlesbrough Credit: Evening Gazette
Witnesses claimed the horror smash unfolded after 11pm on Saturday, before the car was set alight in the early hours.
One resident told Teeside Live: "It's like something from a movie."
Police officers were attacked near the scene of the crash - with one seriously injured and taken to hospital.
The area is known as a "nightmare" estate, where masked yobs as young as six have been known to lob bricks at terrorised locals and threaten to set their homes on fire.
Read more on UK news UNDER FIRE Inside 'nightmare' estate where yobs as young as SIX hurl bricks at homeowners
RUNNING WILD Inside 'Little Beirut' estate where locals build FORTS to save homes from yobs
Cleveland Fire Bridge said crews had rushed to Cass House Road after getting calls about car blaze.
Shocking footage showed plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as fire crews doused the flames.
In the hours that followed seven people were arrested - including two women - after "violent disorder" broke out nearby.
Cleveland Police said they arrived at the scene of the fire around 2.40am yesterday and chaos ensued.
Most read in The Sun
YOB CHAOS Cop 'engulfed in flames' in clashes with Legia Warsaw fans before Aston Villa tie
OFFLINE Hundreds of Three users without signal and internet as network suffers outage
DON'T YELL NELL Real reason Nella Rose has stopped arguing with Nigel Farage on I'm A Celeb
GLAM SHOW Kate & Wills receive standing ovation - after royals in ‘racism’ storm are named
The force said one officer suffered a serious hand injury and facial injuries and was raced to hospital as a result.
Other officers were also injured and a police vehicle was damaged.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, while three other men and two women were arrested for other offences.
It's not the first time mayhem has plagued the area.
Gangs of teenagers used to rampage through the "hell hole" estate described as "Little Beirut".
Last year locals told The Sun they feared little was being done to tackle their terrifying behaviour.
One pensioner said he was so scared of being catapulted with rocks he has built a fort around his home.
Lampposts had been unearthed during the campaign of terror, as well as cop cars having their brakes cut and balaclava-clad thugs lobbing bricks at houses.
Families living in Enderby Gardens in Hemlington also had to put up with shattered glass constantly strewn across the pavements and burnt grass left over from deliberate fires.
Things were so bad that locals claimed even police were too scared to act.
One terrified parent said: "I've had to stand out at night and keep guard so they don't smash out windows.
"We've had to use our son's walkie-talkies that he got for Christmas. He's barely had a chance to play with them.
Read More on The Sun SET UP? I'm A Celeb fans claim ITV 'separated Nella and Nigel' after racism row
ALL CHANGE DWP's warning to 'act quickly' over Universal Credit change or lose benefits
"They broke our bathroom window while our son was in the bath so he was terrified.
"The police don't do anything, they don't even try."
5
Firefighters were called to battle the inferno near what's been dubbed a 'nightmare' estate Credit: Teesside Live 5
Seven people - including two women - were arrested after the smash Credit: Evening Gazette