TWO people had to be rescued last night during a fire in a flat in Penzance.

Crews from Penzance, St Just, Hayle attended the blaze at around 10:20pm, and evacuated people from the roof of the block of flats, on Lannoweth Road.

The two casualties were placed in the care in the care of the ambulance service, and crews performed a search of the property using four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

Three people were given emergency accomodation.

Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious, with reports of a man seen leaving the scene, and following a search by officers and dogs, a man was found on Penrose Terrace.

Police have taken a 45 year old Penzance man into custody at Camborne on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and possession of cannabis.