ARSON is suspected following a blaze at a bedsit in Dickens House, Bickerstaffe Street on Thursday, January 8.

The fire, which was reported at about 7pm, caused severe damage to one of the bedsits on the ground floor. On investigation of the building, firefighters discovered seven people on the second floor and made the decision to secure them there until it was safe for them to come down.

Anyone with information about the fire can contact DC Karen Cummings at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6064 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.