Fires thought to be arson

THREE fires which took place in Woodley on Tuesday are being treated as arson by police.

At 3.03pm on Tuesday, June 13, crews from Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood fire stations were called to a shed fire in Knowle Road.

The crews were on the scene for under 30 minutes, and managed to bring the flames under control using a hose reel.

At 3.55pm, the same crews were then dispatched to a fire in Drovers Way, following reports of a fence and rubbish fire.

A gas mains with exterior piping at the back of the house was exposed to the fire. The fire destroyed a number of items in the back garden and caused damage to the backdoor, a window and an outside wall before being extinguished by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The crews managed to bring the fire under control within 30 minutes.

Detective Constable Phil Stephens, of Thames Valley Police Newbury Force CID, leading the investigation, said: “It was very fortunate that nobody was injured in this fire.

“There was another arson in a neighbouring road approximately 10 minutes earlier which occurred in the back garden of a property in Knowle Road and another in a garden of a home in Cross Way, which is also a short distance away.

“We are looking at the possibility that they may be linked due to location, time and type of the offences. We are very keen to hear from anyone who may have noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area on Tuesday afternoon.

“Anyone with any information is asked to call us on 101 quoting 43170172586.”