A 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with a Lowestoft flat fire.

Four fire crews from Lowestoft, a hydraulic platform from Great Yarmouth and a command support unit from Beccles were all sent to tackle the blaze, which engulfed the first floor of a flat in the town's High Street.

The blaze was in a three storey terraced property, with the crews called out at about 2.50am this morning (Friday).

Initial reports suggested that a number of people could have been inside the property, but a spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said that this was due to it being a block of flats.

The first floor flat of the three storey property was found to be 'well alight,' according to firefighters, and crews used two door enforcers to enter the property.

After searching the building, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said all people were finally accounted for. Wearing four sets of breathing apparatus and using two hose reel jets the incident was brought under control by 4am.

Thermal imaging cameras were also used to ensure that hot spots had not spread to any other areas of the property.

'Police were contacted by the fire service around 3am to reports of a fire in a flat in a block there,' a police spokesman said.

'The flat was extensively damaged and two others in the block sustained smoke damage before the blaze was extinguished.

'The man was arrested a short time ago and is currently in custody at Lowestoft police station,' the spokesman added. 'Enquiries are continuing. No one was injured.'

Did you see the fire or have any photographs of the incident? Contact reporter Anthony Carroll by email on anthony.carroll@archant.co.uk