Probe after fire starts at empty, locked house in Telford

The blaze began at the two-storey semi-detached property in Waverley, Woodside, at 11.30am.

Two fire engines from Telford Central, another from Tweedale and a fire officer went to the scene.

An ambulance and a paramedic also arrived but left on establishing that no-one had been inside the house when the blaze began.

The fire was in a room measuring 26 feet by 20 feet and fire crews used two hose reel jets and four breathing apparatus to put out the flames in just under an hour. They used ventilation pressure to remove the smoke from the property.

A neighbour who did not wish to be named said: "I didn't know anything about it until I came out and saw the fire engines.

"Then my neighbour came over and said he was going to the police station."

The neighbour added: "Apparently it started under the stairs." Chris Ammonds spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "Police attended the scene and are working with the fire service to establish the cause.

"It is not yet clear how the fire started as the house was secure and empty when crews arrived. The occupiers of the property have been notified."

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "WMAS sent one ambulance with one paramedic officer.

"No patients were at the property and crew were discharged from the scene by fire personnel."