UPDATE –  It has been reported that gas canisters have been found at two addresses searched by police and that a search is continuing in a property associated with the man in custody.

A 47-year-old man from the Wallingford area was arrested this morning in Roke Marsh on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He is currently in police custody.

Nobody has been reported injured at this time as a result of these fires, however the structures of the buildings affected are being searched and examined for safety.

Approximately 30 people were evacuated from properties neighbouring the building which was set alight in Roke Marsh. They were evacuated to a nearby centre in the village and are being supported by members of the British Red Cross.

Thames Valley Police received intelligence that there were gas canisters on scene and so the MOD has sent the bomb disposal squad to the location in Benson Lane as a precautionary measure.

Supt Andy Boyd, LPA Commander for South and Vale said: “We are working with the Fire Service and the South Oxfordshire District Council as we investigate these fires and the motivation behind the arson.

“We believe they were not random and would like to reassure the public that they are not believed to be terrorist-related nor do we believe there is any likelihood of further danger to the public at this stage.

“We would like to thank the public for their support and patience while the emergency services carry out our work at the scenes.”

Officers were called at 3.24am to Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford where a fire was reported in Benson Lane. At 3.41am officers were called to a third fire at a property in Quakers Corner, Roke Marsh.

THAMES Valley Police is currently investigating two other fires in Wallingford area, as well as that at the offices of South Oxfordshire District Council, which they believe was started deliberately, about 3am this morning.

Officers were called at 3.24am to Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford where a fire was reported at South Oxfordshire District Council building and another at a nearby commercial property (a Funeral Parlour). At 3.41am officers were called to a third fire at a property (a thatched cottage) in Quakers Corner, Roke Marsh.

A police spokesperson said: “At this stage the police investigation is focusing on all three fires being linked and are believed to be suspicious. It is believed that a vehicle collided with the SODC building prior to the fire.

“There are cordons in place at all three locations and residents and motorists are asked to avoid these areas.

“Nobody has been reported injured at this time as a result of these fires, however following these fires the structures of the buildings affected are being examined for safety.”

It has been widely reported that a vehicle containing gas cylinders was driven into the front reception area of the council building. Bomb disposal technicians have been examining the building, which is no longer blazing.

A 47-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and is currently in custody.

SODC’s website is currently down, but they have set up an emergency site, which includes the latest information about which services are expected to be affected and contact details. https://southandvalecouncils.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/latest-update-from-south-oxfordshire-and-vale-of-white-horse-district-councils/

LATEST UPDATE from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, explaining which services are affected: https://southandvalecouncils.wordpress.com/

EMERGENCY Services currently fighting a serious blaze at the office of South Oxfordshire District Council in Crowmarsh. The council’s website is down. more details from the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-30826330

For emergency assistance, the council can be contacted at:  01235 520202

THE Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, rode on the foot plate of a steam locomotive on Saturday (10/01), when the Mayor of Didcot, Cllr Scott Wilgrove, hosted an event for mayors of local towns and other council leaders to visit Didcot Railway Centre.

The group travelled in a 102-year-old railway carriage, No 92, and took turns to ride on the footplate of 75-year-old pannier tank locomotive, No 3650 which was hauling their train.

In this photograph of the group with 3650, those wearing chains of office in the front row are, right to left: Cllr Scott Wilgrove, Mayor of Didcot; Penny Wilgrove, Mayoress of Didcot; Cllr Anne Purse, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council; Cllr Helen Pighills, Deputy Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames; Cllr Jane Titchener, Mayor of Wallingford; Mark Savery, Mayor of Wallingford’s Consort; Cllr Margaret Turner, Deputy Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council; Michael Turner, Margaret Turner’s Consort; Cllr Des Healy, Deputy Mayor of Didcot; Cllr Jeannette Matelot-Green, Mayor of Thame.

The group also had a tour of the carriage works and of the locomotive works to see restoration projects in progress. Scott Wilgrove is a member of the Great Western Society, and a volunteer guard at Didcot Railway Centre.

THAMES Valley Police has been congratulated by the Minister for Crime Reduction, MP Lynne Featherstone, during a Parliamentary debate, for managing to cut crime while also working to become more efficient.

Thame’s MP, John Howell, drew the Minister’s attention to the 30 per cent reduction in crime in the Thames Valley force area between June 2010 and June 2014, as published in the Independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.

The Minister paid tribute to the Force for “rising to the challenge of driving efficiency and cutting crime.” He added:

“Effective policing plays a key part in reducing crime, as does tackling the underlying drivers of crime.”

The exchange occurred during a House of Commons debate on crime reduction last Wednesday, January 7.

A prolific Oxford shoplifter has been sent to prison for several offences, including stealing from shops in Thame.

Simon White, 35, of Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted stealing aftershaves and perfumes worth £729.50 from Boots, in High Street, Thame, on September 7, 2014. He also admitted stealing makeup worth £773.04 from Superdrug, in High Street, Thame, on October 19, 2014.

White also admitted stealing sunglasses worth £200 from Boots in Broadway, Didcot, on September 18, and stealing perfume worth £160 from Lloyds Pharmacy, in Market Place, Wantage, on September 30. He also admitted stealing perfume worth £120 from the same store on October 15, He admitted stealing children’s toys from KP Stationers, in Market Place, Wallingford, on October 27, stealing champagne worth £81.99 from Co-Op store, in High Street, Dorchester, on October 29, and two sets of pyjamas and a gilet worth £51 from Next, in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, on December 3.

White admitted possessing cannabis, a class B drug, in Abingdon on October 31. He has been sent to prison by Oxford Magistrates for a total of 34 weeks and ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £80.

SOURCE: The Oxford Mail