A serious house fire at an empty home in Yeovil was initially thought to have been arson by firefighters - but the blaze "started accidentally", police say.
Fire crews were called to a home on Springfield Road late on Thursday (May 14) after neighbours saw smoke coming from the property.
A local told Somerset Live they believed the former occupants of the house "moved out months ago", and the house had been empty since.
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Pictures appear to show the front door to the home badly damaged, and the fire service say the "property was unsecured" when firefighters arrived at the scene at 11pm.
The fire service discovered that the blaze had started in an upstairs bedroom, and firefighters initially thought it had been started deliberately.
A police investigation took place at the scene today (May 15).
However, an Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman later said: "Following investigations this morning it has been deemed the fire started accidentally last night.
"The property was unoccupied at the time."
The inside of the house and one side of the external wall was visibly charred by the fire this morning.
Earlier today, a spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at just before 11pm last night after a caller reported a fire in the upstairs of the property with lots of smoke.
"Three crews from Yeovil attended and when crews arrived an upstairs bedroom was found to be well alight.
"Fire crews used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.
"The cause is believed to be deliberate."
The fire service spokesman added that "the property was empty and unsecured" on the arrival of fire crews.
