A man has appeared in court charged with dowsing two camper vans with petrol and setting them alight in Ipswich.

Billy Parker, 55, of no fixed abode, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with arson with intent to endanger life and a second count of arson.

The charges relate to two vehicle fires that took place in the morning of Monday, January 1st this year in Hadleigh Road in Ipswich.

The fires destroyed two camper vans, one in Hadleigh Road itself and one that was parked on a nearby business park, to the value of £2,500 and £4,500 respectively.

Presiding magistrate Susan Burton-Griffiths sent the case to crown court as one of the offences was indictable only.

Parker will next appear at Ipswich Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing on Monday, March 5, via video link.

His solicitor made no application for bail and Parker was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.