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Man arrested after explosion in seaside village

Andrew Turner/BBC The wreckage of a fire outside a house. Burnt remains can be seen at the front of the building. Smoke can also be seen coming off of the wreckage. Andrew Turner/BBC
Ron Anderson said gas cannisters and tins of paint had exploded

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after an explosion in a seaside village.

Norfolk Fire Service was called to an outbuilding on Spindrift Close, in Winterton-on-Sea, at 06:33 GMT where it was believed a fire started in a shed and spread to a burger van parked nearby.

Four appliances from Great Yarmouth and Acle were sent to the scene, near Winterton Hall.

Norfolk Police said a man in his 20s had been arrested and was being questioned.

The force said the fire had also spread to a propane gas cannister. As a precaution a cordon was put in place.

While four houses close to the incident were evacuated, residents had returned to their homes and the cordon had been removed.

No casualties have been reported and the force urged any witnesses to get in touch.

Andrew Turner/BBC Ron Anderson looking into the camera while wearing a patterned scarf and blue coat. He is stood in front of burnt remains, with a yellow house on the opposite side of the street.Andrew Turner/BBC
Ron Anderson said the fire had melted the guttering on his home

Ron Anderson, 65, said he was woken by neighbours who told him there was a fire behind his back fence.

"A couple of burger vans and a few cars round there have been burnt… one of the gas cannisters exploded," he said.

"The heat has damaged the back of our property so it must have been tremendous… it's melted all the guttering; it's done quite a bit of damage."

He said there were "a lot of explosions" including tins of paint.

Chris Harding-Hook, manager at Great Yarmouth Fire Station, said: "Fire in a domestic situation can spread… with that amount of appliances we managed to contain the fire within the boundaries of the property."

Andrew Turner/BBC A number of fire appliances can be seen parked down a road. In front of the fire engines is a blue and white police tape to cordon off the area. Andrew Turner/BBC
Appliances from Great Yarmouth and Acle were sent to the property on Spindrift Close

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