A TEENAGER was arrested by police on suspicion of arson following the devastating fire in Shanklin early on Saturday morning.


The 18 year old has been bailed until March 10 by police investigating the cause of the blaze which tore through flats in the High Street at its junction with Victoria Avenue.

One person was rescued from a window of the building and seven people were evacuated including a 39-year-old man who was taken to St Mary's Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

He was discharged later on the same day.

Emergency crews from Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Bembridge as well as a rescue ladder were called to the scene.