A MAN is due to appear in court this morning charged with arson following a series of incidents in Winchester.

Sean Anthony Clements, 47, from Jewry Street in Winchester is to appear at Basingstoke Magistrate’s court following fires at the Deanery in Cathedral Close, the Phase Eight shop in High Street and the Bengal Sage restaurant off Upper Brook Street on Tuesday night.

The first fire damaged the Deanery Book Shop which raises money for Winchester Cathedral.

The Phase Eight shop was empty at the time of the attack while the fire at the restaurant was quickly extinguished after it was discovered by staff.

He is charged with four counts of arson, one count of actual bodily harm, and three counts of racially aggravated public order offences.