POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a suspicious fire in Newton Abbot in the early hours of this morning (Thursday).

Officers were called by the fire service at 4.20am after a fire began in the communal bin store at a block of flats in Back Road.

No-one was injured in the incident.

The building was evacuated and damage was caused to the bin store.

Police are treating the incident as arson and appealing for anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious in the area between 3.30am and 4.30am to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by telephone on 101, quoting crime reference CR/113432/21.

Newton Abbot’s firefighters dealt with the blaze.

A Fire Control spokesperson said: ‘All persons were accounted for.

‘Crews dealt with the fire using two breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera and small tools.

The cause of the fire was deemed deliberate ignition and the police also attended the incident.

‘Severe damage was caused to the bin store area.’