Leicester: Police suspect two overnight fires were arson

Emergency crews were first called to a fire in Luther Street, off Hinckley Road

Police are investigating two fires less than a mile apart in Leicester in the early hours of Wednesday.

Both fires are believed to have been deliberately started, police say.

Fire crews were called to Luther Street, off Hinckley Road, where a bin fire had spread to a shop shortly after 02:13 BST and then a second blaze at an Iceland store in Narborough Road.

Leicestershire Police said they were "keeping an open mind" as to whether the blazes were connected.

A cordon was put in place around the Iceland supermarket

An upstairs flat in the Luther Street building had to be evacuated and the gas supply in the street was capped by gas distributor Cadent, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A spokesperson for the fire service said there was also some damage to the shop.

The fire service was then called to Narborough Road just after 04:20 where a van fire spread to an Iceland supermarket.

No injuries were reported.

A police spokesperson said: "Early inquiries suggest that the fires were caused deliberately, and officers are also keeping an open mind as to whether the fires at the two separate locations are linked."