Firefighters battled their way into a burning outbuilding because of fears someone could be inside.
Nobody was found in the shed but a joint police and fire brigade investigation has been launched into today's blaze, which police are treating as arson.
A neighbour saw a man climbing over the fence into the garden just before the fire started and a petrol can was found nearby, said police.
A fire brigade spokesman said the large shed is in the back garden of a house in Dilbridge Road West, Colchester, and is occasionally slept in by a resident.
Two fire engines from Colchester fire station were called to the scene after a neighbour spotted the blaze at about 5.25am today.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Friday, January 21, 2005
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