A SUSPECTED bonfire turned out to be a 'significant' early-morning blaze this week, believed to be a case of arson.

Eyewitnesses first thought that a fire to the rear of a property at Mould Crescent, Banbury on Monday November 21 was a lit bonfire but as the flames began to grow the fire service were soon called to deal with what turned out to be a blaze in an outbuilding.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were called to the reports of fencing on fire at the rear of the Banbury home at around 1am.

Two pumps were mobilised from Banbury fire station and on arrival, crews discovered that a significant fire had taken hold of a large outbuilding.

Firefighters immediately tackled the blaze wearing breathing apparatus using two hose reels and a strike jet to extinguish the fire.

Crew Manager Mike Aspinal, from Banbury Fire Station said "Vigilant neighbours made the emergency call after initially thinking that there was a bonfire in the area.

"We received the call as fencing on fire but on arrival, 75 per cent of the outbuilding was involved in fire.

"Whilst no one was injured significant damage was done to personal property."

Thames Valley Police are also making enquiries into the cause of the fire and urge anybody with any information to come forward and call 101.