FOUR people arrested on suspicion of arson have been released on police bail after a fire ripped through a house in Bournemouth.

Police and the fire service were called to Capstone Place, Bournemouth, at 6.21am on Thursday, November 23 after reports of a disturbance and a fire.

Neighbours saw the house ‘covered in white smoke’ and flames through the windows, with the fire continuing to grow.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service sent five fire engines to the property, from Springbourne, Westbourne, Christchurch and Redhill Park.

The fire broke out on the first floor of the house and spread to the roof with an aerial ladder used to tackle the flames.

Three men and a woman were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of arson. 

One of the men was also arrested for assaulting the woman, who was hospitalised.

All four have since been released under investigation.

The fire service returned to the property at around 9pm on Thursday after police officers who were still at the scene saw smoke coming from the roof of the house.

However, police confirmed that nobody had returned to the property and it is believed the earlier fire was ‘flaring up again’.

Firefighters checked the property and left just before 11pm.

A spokesperson for DWFRS said that firefighters returned to the house after further hot spots were identified due to the severity of the damage to the roof space.