31 August 2010 Last updated at 05:14 ET

Investigation after three fires in Derby

Police and fire investigators are assessing the damage

An investigation is being held after three fires which it is feared were started deliberately in Derby.

A woman had to be rescued when three homes caught fire in Violet Street, Normanton, at about 0300 BST.

At 0426 BST two people were led to safety from a first-floor flat after a wheelie bin was found alight nearby.

And two wheelie bins were set alight in Portland Street at about 0520 BST. The fires have caused traffic problems in parts of the city.

Derbyshire fire group manager Bob Curry said: "The fire on Violet Street was the most serious of the three and it's destroyed one property and quite extensively damaged two others.

"We're very concerned about what's happened overnight and we're launched a full investigation jointly with the police, that's going on as we speak, to try and establish who may have been responsible."