Two teenagers and a woman have been taken to hospital and a 50-year-old man has been arrested following three house fires within 20 minutes of each other in Ashby.

Officers have begun an investigation into three house fires in Ashby this morning (21 November) where Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services were called to three addresses to deal with fires that are believed to be linked and caused deliberately.

A house fire on Holywell Avenue was called into Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service at 7.05am, followed by a house fire on Prestop Drive called in at 7.08am.

Leicestershire Police were called at 7.19am to a housefire on Cliffton Drive.

Three people - two teenagers and a woman - have been taken to hospital with injuries being described as not life changing or life threatening.

One teenager is being treated for burn injuries and smoke inhalation while the other two are being treated for smoke inhalation.

Measures to preserve the crime scenes are in place, with Leicestershire Police officers working alongside Leicestershire Fire and Rescue.

The B6006 Smisby Road is also closed.

Speaking about the fires, Detective Inspector Jim Willoughby said: 'Our investigation remains at an early stage as we continue to piece together the circumstances of these three incidents.

'From what we know so far, we believe these incidents to be linked and deliberately caused by the same person.

'I would ask anyone who may have any information about any of these incidents to please get in touch.'

Anyone with information can contact the police by calling 101 and quoting incident 104 of 21 November or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.