A MAN has been arrested in connection with last night's explosion at a flat in School Crescent.

Residents were evacuated and firefighters spent four hours putting out a blaze in the first-floor accommodation at Hardwicke Court.

Cheshire Police say they are treating the cause as suspicious and have arrested a 69-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

No-one was injured, but the gas supply to the block of flats needed to be isolated by Cadent engineers.

Residents were given temporary shelter at Hungerford Primary Academy while fire crews were on the scene. But the school has been closed for Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils until lunchtime today (Thursday) so at to allow cleaning of the premises under Covid-19 guidelines.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue spokesman confirmed: "The cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious and a police investigation has been launched."