Police station apparently set alight

A Palmerston North police station appears to have been deliberately set alight overnight.

Police are investigating after the suspicious blaze at the Highbury community policing centre, on Highbury Ave, just after 3am.

Inspector Paul Jermy of police central communications said a nearby resident alerted the Fire Service, which alerted police straight away.

"We arrived there a couple of minutes after they notified us and found the front of the police station alight," Mr Jermy said.

Fire crews from three truck brought the blaze under control "relatively quickly", Mr Jermy said.

The fire was believed to be suspicious and Palmerston North CIB was investigating.

The station - a converted house in a residential area - was the base for a number of officers.

- NZPA