A FELIXSTOWE man today believed he may have been the subject of an attempted murder after his house was set alight as he slept.A mystery good Samaritan woke Michael Tull and his lodger by banging repeatedly on their front door, while neighbours rang 999.

A FELIXSTOWE man today believed he may have been the subject of an attempted murder after his house was set alight as he slept.

A mystery good Samaritan woke Michael Tull and his lodger by banging repeatedly on their front door, while neighbours rang 999.

The two men escaped from the house in Coronation Drive without injury and today thanked local people who alerted them and summoned firefighters.

Police have launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the blaze and said they were treating it as "arson with intent to endanger life".

The fire began just after 9.30pm when someone set light to a shed in the back garden of the semi-detached property on the corner of Charles Street.

Flames ripped through the outhouse and spread to the adjoining house, catching guttering and a gas pipe.

Windows in the kitchen door blew out and the fire started to spread inside the property, causing damage in the kitchen and smoke logging to the building.

Mr Tull, who has lived at the house, originally his parents' home, since 1954, said he was lucky to be alive.

"I was asleep upstairs and I am a very deep sleeper and it took a heck of a lot of banging on the door to wake me," he said.

"The first I knew was when I heard the banging and came down and saw this young lad hammering on the front door. I then saw this light out the back and thought fire – and for some reason thought I would just get a hose and put it out.

"But it was too fierce. I had to run back upstairs to get my keys to unlock the front door.

"I also woke up my lodger who was asleep in his room, and we both got out.

"It appears that this fire was deliberate and if that is so then it was attempted murder. Whoever did it must have known there was people inside."

Mr Tull thanked the neighbours and the young man who had awoken him.

"I have lived here many years and never had any trouble – I don't know why anyone would do this," he said.

Stored in the shed were many personal items, including a collection of 78rpm records and a table he had made at school. Inside the house there was damage to ceilings and fittings, and a clock had melted because of the heat.

Two fire crews from Felixstowe attended the blaze at 9.45am and it took more than an hour to put out and then thoroughly check the house.

Police today appealed for anyone with information about the blaze to come forward – especially anyone who saw persons acting suspiciously in the area around 9.30am or running away – and should call 01473 613500.

Were you the good Samaritan who woke up Mr Tull and saved his life? Call the Evening Star Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109.