A man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting a fire that badly damaged a semi-detached house in Haverhill.

Two appliances from Haverhill and one from Clare rushed to the scene of the fire in Lulworth Drive at about 2pm on Wednesday after the fire service received reports that the two-storey house on the Parkway estate was on fire.

The 54-year-old man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of arson and he was taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

He has subsequently been released on bail and must return to police on Monday, February 25.

The fire was under control by 3.45pm but firefighters remained to dampen down the damaged property until the incident was declared closed at 4.50pm.

Speaking at the scene, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Incident Commander Lee Wilkins had said: "The fire crews have worked really hard. They were faced with a lot of difficult circumstances and have got it under control.

"We are working with the police we will be making sure we do all the necessary investigations.

"At the current time we are still damping down and turning over but it has been quite a severe fire."

The first floor front bedroom is 'quite significantly damaged' by what Mr Wilkins described as a 'nasty' fire.

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The house has smoke damage to the ground floor and fire damage to the first floor, he added, but thankfully nobody has been injured.

Nobody had to be rescued from the property, said Mr Wilkins: "There's been no life rescue but in terms of the cause it's too early to say.

"We've checked the neighbouring properties and we are happy it has not spread and that's where the crews have done very well."

Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or entering the property in Lulworth Drive to call Suffolk police on 101, quoting reference 37/5986/19.

Alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.