Man arrested after setting fire at service station

Police in Christchurch have arrested a man who poured petrol around the forecourt of a service station and set it ablaze.

Police said an off-duty senior fire officer extinguished the fire after flames damaged a petrol bowser in the incident at the Caltex station in Lincoln Rd about 2.50pm.

A man went to the service station, borrowed a can and filled it with petrol, then sloshed the fuel around the forecourt and set fire to it. No threats were believed to have been made.

Police arrested a 34-year-old man and charged him with arson. He was expected to appear in Christchurch District Court tomorrow.

A police spokeswoman said no one was hurt in the incident.

- NZPA