Nottingham: Arson arrest after apartment block basement fire

An investigation is ongoing

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire in the basement car park of a block of flats.

Emergency crews were called to The Litmus Building in Huntingdon Street, Nottingham at about 03:25 BST on Monday where two cars were alight.

Police said a joint investigation with the fire service concluded the blaze was started deliberately.

The 63-year-old man was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He remains in custody, a Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said.

The fire service said crews were "tied up" from attending other potential incidents because of the blaze

More than 50 firefighters were needed to deal with the blaze which saw the block of flats partially evacuated and destroyed two cars, with a third badly damaged.

Nobody was injured but the fire service said lives had been put at risk.

Det Sgt Al Prentice said: "After a joint initial investigation with our fire service colleagues we now believe this fire was started deliberately.

"Lighting any fire deliberately has the potential to cause harm, but to do so in a city centre location like this with people living above is extremely dangerous."

The investigation is ongoing and the force is asking anyone with information or footage to come forward.

Richard Booth, station manager and fire investigator at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This incident saw a lot of disruption to the residents of The Litmus Building and the wider community, and this arrest will now hopefully reassure them that we are doing everything, along with our colleagues at Nottinghamshire Police, to keep them safe."