A THORNBURY man told this week how he tried to rescue a pensioner from a house fire nextdoor only to be arrested later on suspicion of starting the fatal blaze.
Father of six Lester Starling is demanding an apology from police who detained him for questioning after he fought in vain to pull 82-year-old neighbour Francis King - known to friends as Ivor - out of his smoke-filled bedroom.
Mr King, who had serious mobility problems and used a wheelchair, died in the mystery blaze which caused extensive damage to the council house where he lodged in Bath Road, Thornbury.
Mr Starling,35, claimed that "local gossip" about a feud between himself and a woman neighbour led police to arrest him and a friend, a Bristol man also aged 35, on suspicion of deliberately starting the fatal blaze.
"It's a complete nightmare," said Mr Starling who suffered an arm injury during the rescue attempt after the broke out shortly after 7pm on Saturday.
"There's been gossip in the past about a falling out between me and the person next door but it's been blown up out of nothing. Like most neighbours we've had our ups and downs but to say it was a feud is just ridiculous.
"I can't believe anyone could think I would set fire to the house. In fact, my neighbour was actually in my house having tea with us when the fire broke out - that's how much of feud we were having.
"Her granddaughter was with her and it was she who first spotted the fire and raised the alarm.
"I tried to smash my way in at the front but the place was full of heat and smoke and there was no way through.
"We then went round the back and put a ladder up to Ivor's bedroom window. We smashed it and tried to pull him out but it was no good. There were famles and thick black smoke. Then suddenly something sort of blew up and the next thing we knew we were off the ladder and on the ground.
"I cut my arm quite badly trying to get in and went to hospital to have the wound stitched.
But as soon as I'd been treated police arrested me for arson with intent. I spent the night in the cells and they let me go on Sunday morning. The word murder is actually on my bail form.
"I just can't believe what has happended and I'm gutted by it all. I have to report back to the police station on Monday. I have seen a solicitor and if I don't get one big apology there is going to be trouble. Ivor was a nice old chap. He had lodged nextdoor for years and and we tried really hard to save him.
"The whole thing is like a bad dream. I'm a van driver and now I can't even work because of my injury."
Firefighters from Thornbury, Patchway, Southmead and Yate fought the blaze, using breathing apparatus to enter the house - the middle property in a row of three. Mr King was found dead in the bedroom.
Police forensic experts and fire service investigators later sifted through the debris in the gutted house which this week remained boarded up and sealed off with police security tape.
In a brief statement, Avon and Somerset police spokesman Elaine Parr confirmed two men had been arrested on suspicison of arson and had been freed on police bail pending further inquiries.
"Investigations are continuing to establish the cause of this fire," she said.
Meanwhile the woman tenant of the fire damaged property is staying with family and was described as too upset to talk about the incident.
South Gloucestershire Council spokesman Matthew Rees she had been offered alternative accommodation.
"Repairs are obviously going to take some time and cannot get underway until police have completed their investigations," he said.
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