Arson is suspected after a newly built Hayle home was gutted by fire in the early hours of this morning.

Initial reports are that pallets were pulled round to the front of the house and set alight.

The house was in the process of being sold by St Ives developer Porthia Homes.

A fire investigation was launched in Hayle after crews were called to a home on fire at Trelissick Road.

Firefighters were first alerted at 12.27am when a call was recieved from a person stating they thought a house was on fire.

Two appliances with a total of twelve firefighters from Camborne and St Ives were mobilised.

On arrival crews made the fire "persons reported" as they believed that people may have been staying in the property.

The domestic premise measured 10 x 8 metres and the porch had been totally destroyed by fire and the fire had spread to the roof space when crews arrived.

Two breathing apparatus, one hose reel, a covering jet and a thermal imaging camera wasused and just before 1am a second appliance with six crew from St Ives was sent to the fire.

At 1:11am a full search by breathing apparatus teams was carried out and it was established that the premise was unoccupied.

Crews continued using one hose reel jet and two main jets on the fire and at 1.25am a fourth pump was requested, with an additional six firefighters from Penzance mobilised to the incident along side a command support unit from St Just and an operational support vehicle from Falmouth.

By 2am, 37 fire crew were fighting the fire, which had been contained to the loft space of the property and by 3.30am 42 firefighters were on the ground at the scene.

A fire investigation was launched and one crew of six firefighters remain on scene assisting with the securing of the premise.