Police suspect two fires overnight were arson

Police are investigating two fires less than a mile apart in Leicester in the early hours of Wednesday.

Both fires are believed to have been deliberately set, police said.

Fire crews were called to Luther Street, near Hinckley Road, where a fire spread to a shop shortly after 02:13 BST and then a second fire at an Iceland store in Narborough Road.

Leicestershire Police said they were “keeping an open mind” about whether the fires were linked.

An upstairs flat in the Luther Street building had to be evacuated and the gas supply to the street was covered by gas distributor Cadent, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A fire service spokesman said there was also some damage to the shop.

The fire service was then called to Narborough Road just after 04:20, where a van fire had spread to an Iceland supermarket.

No injuries were reported.

A police spokesman said: “Early inquiries suggest the fires were deliberately set and officers are also keeping an open mind as to whether the fires at the two separate locations are linked.”

Watch BBC Leicester on Facebookon Xor on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or through WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.