Man survives arson attack on home (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Man survives arson attack on home

James Irwin is left in shock after the fire in the bedroom of his Penhill homeA WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a bedroom with intent to endanger life.

The 31-year-old, who is in custody at Swindon Police Station, was arrested after an arson attack at 3am today at the home of James Irwin, 27, in Inglesham Road, Penhill.

Crews from Stratton St Margaret and Swindon central station battled the blaze in the upstairs front bedroom for 90 minutes.

Today police officers and inspectors from the Wiltshire Fire Brigade began the operation to try and uncover what happened at the semi-detached council house.

Officers are guarding the building and only those involved in the investigation have been allowed in.

Police say Mr Irwin, who lives there with his mother, Sue Drew, step-father and stepbrother, was not in the house at the time.

With the investigation underway he has not been allowed back in and has had to wait outside.

James' mother owns the house but she and the rest of the family are currently on holiday with her sister and so far James has been unable to contact her.

He said: "Someone broke in through the front door.

"I went to call the police and then I saw the bedroom was on fire so I called the fire brigade.

"My mum is away and I don't want to have to tell her. I haven't told her yet.

"I don't know what she'll say.

"I can't get in to the house to get my trainers or anything.

"I've got clothes in the kitchen which was not touched but I can't even go in there.

"After I left the house I just had to hang around by the shops because I couldn't knock anyone up at that time. I don't know what time I'm going to be allowed in."

Evelyn Lang, 74, lives behind the house.

She said: "The fire engines came at about 3am and there was flashing lights.

"I wondered what was going on. It woke me up and they were out there for hours. There were two fire engines and police cars.

"The police came in my garden to look for something. I don't know what they were looking for but they didn't shut the gate."

Firefighters say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding a fire in Eldene.

Firecrews from Stratton St Margaret and Swindon were called to the derelict building in the Eldene Centre at 7.15pm yesterday after a passer-by saw the smoke and dialled 999 on their mobile phone.

Firefighters had left the scene by 9pm.

Gareth Bethell