A 51-year-old woman arrested in connection to an arson in Chantry has been released on bail.

Police are continuing to investigate the alleged arson incident after a block of flats in the town had to be evacuated because of a fire.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service received multiple reports of the blaze in Birkfield Drive at about 12.40pm on Saturday, as smoke and flames were seen billowing from a top-floor flat.

Two crews from Princes Street were initially sent but four more crews were then called for following reports that people were trapped inside the property.

By 1.10pm, firefighters on the scene announced that everyone had been accounted for.

The fire was eventually brought under control shortly before 2.20pm but two crews remained at the scene damping down.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said a 51-year-old Ipswich woman was later arrested on suspicion of arson and has been detained under the Mental Health Act. She is due to return to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre on police bail August 29.

One witness told the Ipswich Star: “I was getting my dinner in when I heard the sirens and they had the turntable there as well.

“There was black smoke coming out of the window.”

Yesterday afternoon there was still a police presence outside the block of flats and a police cordon was put in place as investigations continued.

The scars of the fire were also still visible with a broken window on the top floor and scorch marks on the outside of the building.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Suffolk police on 101.