Issued in association with Thames Valley Police

4 August 2009

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witness in connection with a suspicious fire in Milton Keynes in the early hours of yesterday morning (3 August).

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service contacted police just after midnight to report the fire at a house located in The Green on Woughton on the Green. The house, which was in the process of being built and very near completion, sustained extensive damage during the fire.

The house was unoccupied and the owners, who are out of the country, have been notified.

Detective Cononstable Philip Baines, leading the investigation, said: “At this stage the fire is being treated as suspicious. We will be carrying out an extensive forensic investigation along with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service to determine the cause of the fire.

"This is a large, valuable, property which backs on to Peartree Bridge. We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area shortly before midnight last night who may have seen people acting suspiciously near the house. If you have any information about this please contact the police as soon as possible.”

Please contact Milton Keynes Police station via the 24-hour non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to speak to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station.

Click here for yesterday's report about the fire.