A 52-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with two counts of arson over a fire which forced dozens of people from their homes in Felixstowe.

A 52-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with two counts of arson over a fire which forced dozens of people from their homes in Felixstowe.

Dale Williams, of Cornwall Road, Felixstowe, was arrested after yesterday's incident and is due to appear before magistrates today.

Around 20 flats in Cornwall Road were evacuated at around 7am after a loud explosion was heard in one of the apartments.

Residents reported seeing smoke billowing from the property as firefighters, police and ambulance crews converged on the scene.

Three fire crews battled the blaze, but the bedroom and the lounge of the flat were badly damaged while smoke wrecked much of the rest of the property.

A man was treated with the effects of smoke inhalation at the scene, but it is not believed anyone else was hurt in the incident.

The man was later arrested and taken to Ipswich police station, where he was questioned by detectives and then charged.