ARSON is thought to have been the cause of a serious fire at a house in South East Cornwall this week.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Monday and is believed to have started when combustible material was deliberately set alight through a broken rear window.

The family of four believed to live in the house were not at home at the time.

A total of 21 firefighters from Callington and Saltash were sent to the terraced property in Coronation Road, Callington, at 5.31am on Monday.

They found the property well alight.

There were concerns that the fire could spread and occupants of nearby homes were evacuated.

The firefighters wore two sets of breathing apparatus and used hosereels to extinguish the fire. Police and an ambulance were also at the scene but there were no casualties.

By 7.48am, the incident was being scaled down with a hosereel in use to damp down and a thermal imaging camera checking for hotspots.

Western Power was requested to isolate the mains electricity supply. The ground floor of the property was destroyed by the flames and the upper storey was badly damaged.

A fire brigade spokesman said arson was suspected. Police are investigating.