POLICE are treating an early morning blaze in Lowestoft as arson.

Investigations are under way after a commercial wheelie bin was set alight, causing the bin to be destroyed, and the fire spread to a gas meter and pipe, which then resulted in the release of gas in a nearby building.

A police spokesman said: 'The fire service were contacted just after 3am this morning (Tuesday, November 6), to reports of the fire in the back yard of premises in London Road North, close to Milton Road East.

'The yard is used as a car park for both residential and commercial premises. The wheelie bin had been up against a gas meter point and the heat from the blaze destroyed both the bin and the meter point, including plastic piping carrying gas from the mains. There was a minor leak into an adjacent building and the pipes had to be dug up by National Grid personnel to seal them off.'

Police are keen to trace a man who was seen on CCTV in the vicinity shortly before the fire service arrived. He is white, about 6ft tall, of slim build, wearing a black hooded top with white cords hanging down, a white top underneath, and a black cap with white text on it.

? Anyone with information about the man or the incident is asked to call PC 1701 Abbott at Lowestoft police on 101.