ARSONISTS put lives at risk when they started a fire at a block of flats on Thursday, August 9.

The blaze was started deliberately in a rubbish bin inside a communal shed on the ground floor of Lea Court flats in Butler Street, Uxbridge.

The flames quickly spread to the upper two floors and balconies of the building damaging around 15 per cent of the second floor and roof.

Three fire crews were called to the blaze at 5.24pm and managed to contain the blaze in just under an hour.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack. A spokesman said: "It could have been very serious if it not been put out so quickly."

Anyone with information about the attack, or who was in the area between 5pm and 5.30pm, can contact Detective Constable Phil Priestley on 0208 2461 529, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.