THE CAUSE of the blaze which destroyed a £1.4million house in Poole has still not been determined, Dorset Police have confirmed.

While investigations at the property on Western Avenue, Branksome Park, have been completed, how the fire started after it was reported to the emergency services in the early hours of Sunday morning is still yet to be established.

Nobody was in the house at the time, after Dorset Fire and Rescue Service were alerted at 2.30am and nine fire crews attended the scene to extinguish the flames, which neighbours said reached heights of 32-metres and above.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said yesterday that the investigation, which was launched jointly with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, has now been handed over to the police.

They added: “Officers are investigating the circumstances of the incident. The cause is currently unknown.”

Residents living nearby also spoke of hearing the banging and crackling noises coming from the fire, along with sparks shooting into the sky and described it as ‘completely raging’ when the first fire engine arrived.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said that they could not rule out arson as a possible cause of the blaze.

Speaking yesterday, station manager, Sean Blizzard, fire investigation officer for the incident, pictured, said: “Following the fire in Western Avenue on Sunday morning, I have been at the scene with my Dorset Police colleagues for several days this week.

“We have conducted thorough investigations into the cause of the fire, but these were hampered by the dangerous state of the building.

“The incident has now been handed over to Dorset Police.”