A CARAVAN was set on fire while two people were inside, with one of them having to be taken to hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after the caravan was set alight on Friday night.

At around 8pm, an unknown man started a fire beneath the caravan which was parked on a driveway in Cambridge Road, Dorchester, police said.

Two local men, aged 42 and 43 were inside the caravan when the fire was started.

The 42-year-old was taken to hospital as a precaution while the second man was uninjured.  Police asked any witnesses who may have important information to come forward.

Detective Constable Andy Thomson, of Weymouth CID, said: “I am appealing for any witnesses who have not yet spoken to the police but may have important information that could assist my investigation to please contact Dorset Police.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance service said it was called at 8.30pm by the fire service to the incident.

He added that a man had collapsed and appeared to be “having a fit” and was taken to Dorset County Hospital

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said that it was called to a caravan fire on Friday night with a crew from Dorchester extinguishing it using one hose reel jet. 

Police said that no arrests have been made at this time.

Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Tim Harries, backed the police’s appeal and urged anybody who knows anything to come forward.

He said: “It sounds like a somewhat bizarre but unfortunate incident.  “I’m glad to here the people involved seem to be OK. Of course, if anybody knows anything, please come forward.

“Whatever possesses people to do something so stupid? It sounds like it could have been a lot more serious. It must have been quite traumatising for the people involved. It seems more stupid than malicious.

“I just hope the people involved are feeling OK and I hope the police catch whoever did this.”

He added that it seems like an isolated and peculiar incident for Dorchester.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or via email on 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk. They can also contact 101 and people should quote occurrence number 55160125426.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org