A man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was tied up during a burglary at her home.

The 35-year-old man has also been charged with aggravated burglary with intent to steal, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage to vehicle, arson endangering life with intent and false imprisonment.

The victim, aged in her 50s, was rescued by two members of the public after a fire was started in an upstairs room of the property in School Road outside Clough in Co Down.

She was uninjured but left shocked by the ordeal on January 19, police said.

An iPad and a MacBook were stolen by thieves who fled the scene in a grey-coloured Peugeot 206 car, the PSNI added.

The 35-year-old man is also facing charges alongside two other men, aged 27 and 30, in connection with four burglaries in Ballyward, Belfast, Downpatrick and Ardglass between February 20 and 23.

The trio are charged with offences including aggravated burglary and stealing, false imprisonment, burglary, going equipped for burglary and handling stolen goods.

The men, who were arrested in Rathfriland on Friday, are due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court on Monday.