A man who was arrested in connection with a house fire in Halstead has been released from police bail.

The blaze took hold outside a home on Mitchell Avenue shortly before 12:30am on Friday, July 19 when various discarded items caught alight.

The flames then spread to the side of the house and caused a minor explosion which awoke Glenda Soames and her four children, who escaped unhurt. 

A few hours later, a 43-year-old man was arrested at his nearby home on suspicion of committing arson and later released on police bail pending further enquiries.

These enquiries have now concluded and he was today released from this bail without charge.