Man In Court Over South Oxfordshire Fires

A man has appeared in court charged over a series of arson attacks in South Oxfordshire.

Andrew Main, 47, of Roke Marsh Farm, Roke, Wallingford, appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of arson with intent to endanger life and two counts of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The charges relate to fires in Crowmarsh Gifford and Roke Marsh Farm in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The South Oxfordshire Council offices, a funeral parlour and a thatched cottage were targeted, along with a building at the farm.

Twenty-seven fire crews were sent to the infernos - all reported within less than 10 minutes of each other, just after 3am.

A witness described seeing a burnt-out car in the foyer of the council headquarters, while aerial images show a collapsed section of roof on the charred remains of the building.

An army bomb disposal team was also dispatched amid fears of unexploded gas canisters at one of the sites.

Main, who appeared at the short hearing wearing a plain grey tracksuit, nodded when asked if his personal details were correct.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Oxford Crown Court on January 30.