Police today revealed they have not ruled out a link between two suspicious fires which happened on the same night.

But in the meantime separate investigations are being carried out into the blazes at a Vange flat and a Laindon house.

Police investigations have revealed there was a "disturbance" between a group of men and a woman in Ryedene Close, Vange before the blaze broke out.

It is believed flammable liquid was poured into the Vange flat at about 4am. The man living inside the flat managed to escape uninjured.

DC Peter McCormack of Pitsea CID, said: "As a result of house-to-house inquires, we've learned about the disturbance in the street, but it is too early to speculate whether this case is connected with the fire in Laindon."

The fire in Longwick, Laindon, happened at 12.30am on the same night. No-one was home, and the fire badly damaged the ground floor of the property.

Det Con Ray Turner of Wickford Police, said it had not been linked to the Vange fire but police were still seeking witnesses.

Anyone with information about the Vange flat fire should contact Pitsea CID on 01268 244037. Information concerning the incident at the Laindon house, should be passed to Wickford CID on 01268 244047. People can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.