Man and woman jump to escape house fire near Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium

A 24-year-old man has been arrested after 17 people were forced out of their homes - with two jumping from an upstairs window - by a suspected arsonist.

Six people were inside the house when the fire began just before 5.20am on Tuesday.

A man and woman jumped from a window to escape the blaze and were taken to hospital with leg fractures and to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Police said another 11 people had been evacuated from neighbouring properties on Portman Road in Ipswich, close to the town's Premier League football stadium.

A spokesman said: "Arrangements are being made by Ipswich Borough Council to accommodate them in a refuge centre until it is safe for them to return to their homes."

They confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious and a 24-year-old man from Felixstowe had been arrested in connection with it.

It is thought to have been a "localised and targeted attack", said police.

The fire was put out by 7.03am and a spokesperson for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: "Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to an incident at a two storey, mid-terrace residential property in Portman Road, Ipswich at approximately 5.20am.

"Two crews from Ipswich East and two crews from Princes Street attended."

The service added it would be assisting police in investigations into the cause.

The East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said it sent three ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle, rapid response vehicle, hazardous area response team and the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service to the scene.

A spokesperson said the two people had been taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment.

The fire was a few hundred metres from Portman Road stadium - the home of Ipswich Town Football Club.

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