DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a man was arrested on suspicion of arson following a Swanage caravan fire.

Swanage fire crews spent two hours dousing a fire at Washpond Lane after being called shortly before 11pm to tackle the "intense" blaze involving a derelict caravan and outbuildings.

Dorset Police say the fire broke out sometime between 10.30-11pm on Thursday.

The fire was discovered by a passing taxi driver who spotted smoke billowing from the caravan. The quick-thinking cabbie grabbed a fire extinguisher from his taxi and called out Dorset Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS).

No-one was injured in the incident.

Detective Constable Mark Richardson said: "I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Washpond Lane area between the relevant times to please call me."

A 52-year-old man from Swanage has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

A DFRS spokesman said: "The fire was quite intense and was knocked down using water from appliances and a hydrant in the High Street."