Arrest after fire erupts at Lee-on-the-Solent petrol station

A man has been arrested following a fire at a petrol station that engulfed cars and fuel pumps causing those at the forecourt to flee.

The blaze at the BP Petrol Station on Broom Way, Lee-on-the-Solent, started at about 11:15 GMT on Thursday.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it was reported a man had been seen on the forecourt with an axe before the fire began and spread to several vehicles and the petrol pumps.

A man with burn injuries was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, police said. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

The fire was put out by firefighters and no other injuries were reported, police said.

A road closure was put in place while emergency services dealt with the fire. It has since reopened.

Nick Lawrence, who lives opposite the petrol station, watched from his upstairs bedroom window.

“I think if the fire brigade hadn’t arrived and you know taken control of the situation, the whole station [could] have gone up, I think it had the potential to be a lot worse,” he said.

“The wind was kind of blowing from behind the petrol station towards us so any of the smoke was coming our way.”