POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a suspected arson at a student flat.
Someone smashed a window at a home on Laburnum Avenue, in Durham, before pulling the curtains out and setting them alight.
The fire destroyed the curtains and caused smoke damage to the room but burnt itself out and caused limited fire damage.
No-one was in the property as the students renting it had returned home for the summer.
The incident happened between 5pm on Saturday, July 11, and 8am on Monday, July 13.
The side of the house where the window was smashed faces onto a lane which runs alongside old council offices at Byland Lodge, towards Neville's Cross and past an old park.
Detective Constable Mel Sutherland, of Durham City CID, is keen to speak to anyone who may know anything about the incident or may have seen someone acting suspiciously in the area, particularly on Saturday night.
Anyone with information should call Durham Police on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.
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