A potential arsonist on a forecourt was hosed down by fire fighters to enable police to arrest him.

The incident occurred after a petrol station in Northampton was evacuated on Wednesday evening (November 4) due to a man standing by a fuel pump and threatening to harm himself.

Police were called to Westbridge Petrol Station, St James Road. A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “Police officers, together with other emergency service colleagues attended shortly after 7.30pm, where a man was at a fuel pump.

“Fire officers, who were at the scene, used a water pump on the man which then allowed officers to arrest him.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and taken into custody.”

Although the area was evacuated as a precaution, no one was injured and there was no fire.

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