ARSONISTS are believed to be blamed for starting a fire at an Oxford bedsit.

Fire crews were called at 9.45pm on Monday to a home in Long Lane, Littlemore, where a fire had broken out on the ground floor of the terraced property.

It is believed the house was empty at the time of the blaze.

Two crews, one from the Slade and one from Rewley Road, Oxford, were called out to tackle the fire.

Neighbours reported being able to see flames through the ground floor window of the house.

The incident is being investigated by Thames Valley Police.

Neighbour Tim Sherwood said the first he knew about the fire was when his wife alerted him and told him they had to leave the house.

The father-of-one said: “Everyone was out in the street.

“This sort of thing does bring people together.

“At that point the fire service weren’t there so it was scary.

“If it wasn’t for a couple of people raising the alarm who knows what could have happened. It makes you think.”