Arson is suspected after a fire at a home in Newquay led to the evacuation of seven residents early this morning.

Police are appealing for witnesses after officers and firefighters were called just before 6am to the blaze at a property on St Thomas Road.

Newquay Sector Inspector Dave Meredith said: "One of the residents inside the property had noticed flames in the area of the front door and contacted the fire service, who attended and quickly put out the fire.

"Seven people were evacuated from inside the property but thankfully no one was injured. There is some fire damage to the front door and surrounding frame, but the rest of the property is unaffected. We have a police scenes of crime officer at the scene and our enquiries are underway."

Inspector Meredith said police "are treating this fire as suspicious," and asked for witnesses or anyone with knowledge of the fire to come forward.

He added: "This appears to be an isolated incident; there have been no recent reports of similar incidents in the Newquay area."

If you saw the incident or have any knowledge about it, call police on 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting log 66 for January 18. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The police will be conducting further enquiries into this incident with Cornwall Rescue and Fire Service.