Appeal for information following suspected arson of van in Formby

At around 10.30pm, emergency services were called to Liverpool Road, to the rear of the Royal Hotel, to reports of a Vauxhall Vivaro van on fire.

The fire was extinguished by MFRS and investigators have assessed that it is believed to have been started deliberately.

Nobody was in the vehicle but a man in the area was treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance staff at the scene. The van was recovered for forensic enquiries.

CCTV and witness enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances and anyone with information, or may have captured any information on dashcam or CCTV, is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100181019 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.