A MAJOR city blaze is being treated as suspicious by police.

The fire began at around 11pm in a three-storey block of empty flats in The Tything in Worcester.

The road was closed and diversions put in place, causing tailbacks this morning.

At the height of the fire all three storeys were alight and there were six fire engines and 50 firefighters at the scene and two aerial ladder platforms were used to tackle the fire.

The building is now considered to be unsafe and most of the roof has collapsed.

Det Sgt Phil Colley said: “We are treating the fire as suspicious at this time and are continuing to work closely with the fire brigade as investigations continue. “Anyone with information should contact police immediately.”

The fire spread from the source, an unoccupied building, to a neighbouring building - architects bgp McConaghy - on the corner of Upper Tything and Shrubbery Avenue.

No-one was injured in the blaze but buildings either side of the fire, including Chellbrook Court, had to be evacuated.

Firefighters using breathing gear and entered the building to put out the fire after they received initial reports of smoke.

Station commander Adrian Moore said there were concerns about the stability of the gable end property - No 2 Shrubbery Avenue - where the fire spread to from its source in number 30 The Tything. He said structural enginners would look at the integrity of the building.

He said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Tybridge Street was closed and traffic leaving Worcester on the A38 was diverted along St Oswald's Road while pedestrains were diverted along Back Walk.

Shrubbery Avenue was cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians.

Anyone with information on the fire should call police on 0300 333 3000, quoting 31/S/160511, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

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