St Albans house engulfed in flames following suspected arson attack

A SUSPECTED arson attack caused a fire which tore through a St Albans home overnight.

Firefighters from St Albans and Hatfield were called to the scene in Oxford Avenue, off Camp Road, just before 3am and found both floors of the semi-detached property well alight.

It was initially thought that people might have been trapped inside the blaze but everyone was accounted for a short while later, and no injuries were sustained.

It took more than three hours to bring the fire, which is being treated as suspicious by police, under control.

A fire investigation to establish the exact cause is underway this morning and a 49-year-old man from St Albans is in police custody.