A CARAVAN parked in a layby was allegedly set on fire during the early hours of the morning. 

Firefighters were called to Ulwell Road in Swanage at 2am on Thursday, October 3 to tackle the ‘deliberate’ blaze. 

A man was living in the caravan, residents of Swanage have said, but he is understood to have made it out safely. 

Meanwhile, a woman in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of arson. She is currently in police custody facing serious questions. 

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Dorset Police received a report at 2.17am on Thursday 3 October 2024 from the fire service in relation to a fire involving a caravan on Ulwell Road in Swanage. 

“Officers attended and, following enquiries, a woman aged in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of arson.  

“It was reported that she assaulted officers as they attempted to detain her and she was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. 

“She remains in police custody at this time. Enquiries into the matter remain ongoing.” 

A spokeswoman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to an incident at 1.59am this morning (3 October) to Ulwell Road, Ulwell to reports of a touring caravan on fire.  

“Two crews from Swanage attended where two hose reel jets, a thermal imagine camera and scene lighting were used to extinguish the fire.  

“Three LPG cylinders were also removed and cooled. Our stop was at 2.38am. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.”