AN investigation is under way after a family were rescued following a suspected arson attack a block of bedsits in Ipswich.

A woman, who lives on the top floor of the four-storey building in London Road, was taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment after she sustained smoke inhalation in the incident yesterday morning.

Her husband and two small children also had to be rescued by firefighters.

The fire itself was centred on a flat on first floor of the building and broke out around 5am.

Part of the large property has now been cordoned off as a crime scene as the blaze is being treated as a suspected arson.

The first floor flat was left gutted. A man said to be aged in his mid 20s lives in the bedsit, although possibly two men were there at the time.

Officers are asking anyone who was in the London Road area of Ipswich between 7pm yesterday and 5am today to get in touch with them.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “Officers were initially contacted by a member of the public just after 7.30pm yesterday to reports a group of males had gone into a property and that there was shouting coming from the address.

“There were then reports of windows being smashed and several men fleeing.

“Police immediately attended and spoke to a number of people in the area.

“At 3.50am this morning police were called again, this time reporting that two males were outside the property causing problems. Officers attended and spoke with four men.

“Then at 5am police received a further call saying there was a fire at the address. Officers attended within two minutes and alerted the fire and ambulance service. Several people - including a family with young children - were rescued from the property suffering from smoke inhalation.

They were taken to hospital for treatment and have since been discharged.”

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in relation to the incident which occurred just after 7.30pm. He is was being questioned at Ipswich police station.