A MAN has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that gutted a flat in Cinderford in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

The fire at the flat, part of a two storey building in Market Street, was reported at 3am.

Two people were rescued from the burning building and treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics. Two cats were rescued uninjured but two others perished.

At its height, the blaze was tackled by more than 30 firefighters with five fire engines and an aerial ladder.

Station manager, Jon French was the incident commander at the scene.

"Swift actions from the attending crews enabled them to rescue a male and a female from the building. The couple were fortunate that noise from the fire woke them up, although a working fire alarm would have provided a much earlier warning."

The fire caused substantial damage to the roof space, the first floor flat and neighbouring property. It is also understood that stock in the shop below has also been destroyed.

Matthew Pond, 25, from Market Street in Cinderford, has been charged with arson and was remanded to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday (July 4).