A NAILSWORTH man accused of setting fire to a house in Stroud was cleared today when the prosecution dropped the case against him.

Leon Dunlop, 26, of Grace Dale, Old Bristol Road, Nailsworth, had pleaded not guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to arson with intent to endanger life.

He was alleged to have tried to start the fire at the home of Colin Bloxsome in Eros Close, Stroud on February 21, 2015.

Prosecutor Anjali Gohil told the court today that the Crown had decided not to proceed because of a problem with proving the continuity of the evidence against Mr Dunlop.

This involved the paraphernalia used in the alleged fire starting - newspaper, cigarettes and flammable material inside a Sainsbury's carrier bag, she said.

Unfortunately the Crown was not able to prove the provenance of the plastic bag and who had touched it.

The Crown had also taken into account that Mr Bloxsome was in very poor health, she said.

The judge, Recorder James Watson QC, formally found Mr Dunlop not guilty and discharged him after awarding him £50 to cover petrol and parking expenses for three visits to court.

Also in the dock was Hannah Bloxsome, a 30 year old mum of three, who has admitted lying to give a false alibi to Mr Dunlop.

She has pleaded guilty to doing an act tending or intended to pervert the course of justice between February 21 and July 27 this year.

The charge stated that she provided a false statement giving an alibi for Mr Dunlop when he was under investigation for arson at a house in Stroud on February 21 this year.

Kevin Batch, for Ms Bloxsome, asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on her by the probation service and Recorder Watson agreed.

He bailed her till January 13 but warned her that immediate custody would be the normal punishment for such an offence.