SEVERAL residents had to be evacuated from flats in the Forest Green area of Nailsworth yesterday afternoon after a fire started in the outside recycling bins.

Police have launched an investigation after the fire destroyed the large bins and caused smoke damage to the outside of the building at Highwood Court in Norton Wood.

A police spokeswoman said: “The fire service are treating the fire as arson. There was damage to the front a window and window frames and inside the communal hall area of the property.

“No occupants were injured. Neither was there damage to the interior of any of the flats or personal property.”

Two crews from Nailsworth Fire Station were called to the scene at 2.25pm on Tuesday.

A plume of black smoke could be seen coming from the side of the building, which is known locally as the Green Flats.

The fire service said six adults and three children had fled from the property before Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service arrived, but no one was injured. Two dogs were also rescued uninjured.

Fire crew personal used a thermal imaging camera to check everyone was safely evacuated from the flats, as well as one hose reel used and breathing apparatus.

A spokesman from the service confirmed the fire had started in large recycling bins outside the Sanctuary Housing property. The fire had been fully put out by 3.10pm.

If anyone has any information or witnessed anything suspicious call 101 quoting incident number 231 of March 28.