A MAN was arrested for suspected arson after a caravan went up in flames outside a Coleford house.

Residents reported hearing an explosion in The Crescent/ Sunnybank Road area on Sunday evening followed by a large blaze in the garden area, with one neighbour saying a gas bottle had blown up.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and the residential street was cordoned off for some time while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to a report of a fire at a caravan outside of an address on The Crescent, Coleford at around 8.50pm on Sunday 2 August.

"Nobody was believed to have been injured.

"Investigations into the fire are currently being conducted by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Gloucestershire Police.

"A 54-year-old man from the Forest of Dean was arrested on suspicion of arson. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Police through the force website using the 'crime that has already been reported' link and quoting reference number 53260066769.

A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.44pm on Sunday, August 2 to a fire in Sunnybank Road, Coleford.

“Three fire engines, two from Coleford and one from Cinderford, attended the scene and used two hose reels and four breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire."

Smoke could be seen billowing into the air several miles away, with one woman posting around 9pm: "Large plume of smoke seen from Goodrich area towards Symonds Yat. Anyone got any idea? It’s not a wildfire.”

Witnesses replied to confirm it was a caravan blaze on Sunnybank in Coleford, below Crescent Close.

One neighbour said: “We heard the explosions and then went straight to it!”