A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after fires broke out at a number of locations across southern Oxfordshire overnight.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested after a fire engulfed the South Oxfordshire District Council building in Crowmarsh Gifford.

Witnesses reported seeing a car drive into the foyer of the council building shortly before the blaze.

Firefighters are still tackling two other fires in the area including one a funeral parlour in Crowmarsh Gifford an a thatched property in Rokemarsh.

David Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“We are in the process of dealing with three major fires in South Oxfordshire, which occurred within a very short timeframe.

“These are on-going incidents and our firefighters are working hard to get the fires under control, with assistance from neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services at the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council office fire.

“At this stage I am unable to state what the causes of the fires were – this matter is currently in the hands of Thames Valley Police, with whom we are working in conjunction.”

Thames Valley Police said they are treating the three fires as linked and suspicious.