ARSONISTS are believed to be behind a fire which destroyed a wooden lodge in the grounds of a stately home near Selby.

Last night, North Yorkshire Police said they had arrested a 23-year-old local man in connection with the incident which saw a large wooden hunting shed in the grounds of Carlton Towers in Carlton, completely burnt out in the flames.

Police have described the attack as “disgraceful behaviour”. Following questioning, the man was released on police bail.

The fire broke out some time between 10.20pm and midnight on Saturday. As well as the destruction of the lodge itself, a number of tables and chairs inside the structure were also burned.

PC James Cobbold, of the Selby Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Setting out to deliberately destroy buildings and property is disgraceful behaviour.

“This particular case appears to be suspicious and is now subject to an investigation that will examine the full circumstances surrounding the blaze.”