A man has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a flat blaze in Witham.

Unemployed Daniel Newton, 22, of Freebournes Court, Witham, was also charged with assaulting a police officer after the fire on Monday evening above the Job Centre in Newland Street.

He was due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Three fire crews rushed to the flat, above the Job Centre in Newland Street, where thick grey smoke poured into the street from the window.

They rescued a man from the building and he was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, by ambulance suffering from suspected smoke inhalation.

See the BWT for the full story.