A FIRE which gutted the roofs of two Victorian buildings in Worcester may be suspicious, say police.

The blaze began shortly before 11pm on Tuesday in a three-storey block of empty flats in Upper Tything.

The A38 was closed in both directions and diversions put in place, causing long tailbacks.

At the height of the fire, three storeys were alight and there were six fire engines and 50 firefighters at the scene.

Two aerial ladder platforms were used to tackle the flames and the fire was brought under control at about 2am yesterday.

The police helicopter with a thermal imaging camera was also used.

The fire began in number 30 in Upper Tything but spread to the building next door – architects bgp McConaghy – on the corner of Upper Tything and Shrubbery Avenue, which also suffered extensive damage in the roof.

No one was injured in the blaze but buildings either side of the fire, including Chellbrook Court, were evacuated.

Station Commander Adrian Moore said there were concerns about the stability of the gable end property.

He said structural engineers would look at the integrity of the building and the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

The building surveyor inspected the site later that day and part of the roof was shored up to help make it safe.

Det Sgt Phil Colley, of West Mercia Police, said: “We are treating the fire as suspicious and are working closely with the fire brigade as investigations continue.

“I would like to appeal for anyone who may have seen anyone or anything suspicious in the Barbourne Road area any time from about 10pm.

“House-to-house enquiries have continued through the day and officers are reviewing CCTV.”

Yesterday, The Tything was closed and traffic leaving Worcester on the A38 was diverted along St Oswald’s Road while pedestrians were diverted along Back Walk.

Shrubbery Avenue was cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians.

Worcestershire County Council later installed temporary traffic lights and opened a single lane of traffic.

Anyone with information can call police on 0300 3333000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

• Click here for readers' pictures from the incident.