A FIRE which saw the porch of an unoccupied house become engulfed in flames is being treated as arson.

Six neighbouring properties in Dudley Place, Fingerpost had to be evacuated after the blaze took hold shortly before 6.30pm last Thursday (December 11).

The fire was believed to be linked with damage to the gas mains, leading to the dramatic pictures taken by Star reader Robob.

Flames were seen coming out of the porch as firefighters tried to bring the fire under control.

One neighbour told the Star: “There were fire crews, police and CID down here. The talk is, it was arson.”

A joint investigation between police and the fire service is ongoing. Although the cause of the is still being investigated but at this stage it is suspected to have been started deliberately, a Merseyside Fire and Rescue service spokesman said.

Station manager Ged Sheridan said: “Firefighters controlled the fire to stop it spreading and requested a gas engineer to attend to isolate the gas supply to help extinguish the fire. Gas engineers had to dig to stop the gas supply feeding the flames and firefighters then put out the fire.”

No one was hurt in the incident. Two fire engines from St Helens and Eccleston attended the call out.