POLICE are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward following a suspected arson attack on a house in Bournemouth.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey house in Belle Vue Crescent, Southbourne, at around 2.20pm on Tuesday after neighbours reported seeing smoke billowing from the property.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the incident is being treated as suspicious and scenes of crime officers were at the house yesterday morning to carry out a full investigation.

Police say the occupants of the house were away at the time. The person or people responsible gained entry to the house via a side door.

Firefighters discovered several seats of fire in the first floor and staircase of the house and the blaze caused considerable damage upstairs.

Neighbours said they tried to get inside the property to check whether anyone was trapped.

One man said: “I took a few steps inside and shouted to see if anyone was in, I also tried all the windows and doors but there was no one there.

“Luckily it happened during the day and not at night otherwise the fire could have spread.”

Witnesses and anyone with information about this incident should call Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.