Appeal For Witnesses After A Fire in Portsmouth

1 June 2010, 12:14 | Updated: 1 June 2010, 12:19

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information after a small fire was started in the porch of a house in Old Portsmouth.

At around 9am on Sunday, May 30, the occupant of the house on Penny Street discovered his door mat alight.
 
It is possible the fire could have started at around 6am.
 
The home owner was able to extinguish the flames himself but not before they caused some damage to the doorway. 
 
DC Pete Bambury from Portsmouth CID said: “Penny Street is a very quiet residential area and this is a very unusual incident which appears to be malicious.
 
“I need to trace anyone who may have been in that area in the early hours of the morning that may have seen something they think was suspicious, or any residents who may have been woken by noises or a disturbance.
 
“The road is a short cut through Old Portsmouth and is used by taxi drivers collecting and dropping off fares.”
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Bambury at Fratton police station on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.