A MAN rescued from a burning building by firefighters was last night being quizzed by detectives over the suspected arson attack.

Firefighters rushed to Old Northam Road, Southampton, in the early hours of yesterday morning after the alarm was raised that a three-storey building was ablaze.

They found the ground, first and second floors of the Digital All Stars building which adjoins the Olympic Gallery and is just two doors from the ocean liner souvenirs base of Cobwebs, well alight.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus dragged a man from the inferno before using hose reels to douse the flames in a 70-minute operation.

The occupant of the building - which features flats above the shop - was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment for smoke inhalation. He was later arrested by police.

Yesterday the scene was cordoned off with police tape as fire investigators picked through the wreckage of the fire which left windows shattered and blackened.

Det Con Keith McKay, from Shirley police station, confirmed a man in his 20s or 30s had been rescued from the building and later arrested on suspicion of arson. It is thought that the man may have been trying to commit suicide.

But Det Con McKay said: "We can't at this stage say he was trying to take his own life. We believe he returned home about 2am, although we can't be sure.

"We don't know for certain what caused the fire yet, we are waiting for fire investigators to report."

But he added: "Accelerants have been found in there but whether they have been brought in or were there already we don't know."

Helen Spiller, landlady of The King Alfred ub, which is close to where the blaze broke out, said she had been woken at about 2.30am by fire engines and police cars.

She said: "A chap was taken out of the building.

There were lots and lots of people outside.

"The smell of the smoke was still in the pub this morning and in the three flats that I have got here."

The landlady added: "I think there have been squatters living in the flats for a while, but I didn't know anyone was living in there at present."

But other neighbours thought the flats were rented out but did not know much about the shop or the accommodation in the building which once housed The Alfred public house.

Two fire engines from St Mary's, one from Hightown and a special equipment unit from St Mary's tackled the fire.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Adrian Geary at Shirley police station on 0845 045 4545.