A MUM says she has lost everything after an arson attack gutted her Worcester home.

A 32-year-old man from Worcester has been arrested on suspicion of arson and breaching a restraining order following the fire in Somers Road, Barbourne, Worcester on Monday night.

Neighbours said it was the second fire at the same property in the last few months.

Mother-of-three Rachel Pullen is staying with relatives after her Fortis Living home, a semi-detached house, was gutted in the blaze.

The 36-year-old told the Worcester News: "I'm gutted. I've lost everything I own. I don't know how I'm going to replace everything I've lost."

She said she was out when the fire was started.

The suspect was in police custody when the Worcester News went to press.

West Mercia Police attended Somers Road at about 6pm on Monday evening.

A window was smashed and the inside of the semi-detached house set alight a spokesman for West Mercia Police confirmed.

The fire service said the ground floor fire was reported at 6.20pm with locals claiming a previous blaze occurred at the same house in March.

Witnesses said firefighters had to break into the brick semi-detached house which was locked at the time.

The glass panel on the door was smashed, possibly where firefighters had broken into the house and all the windows were open to ventilate the property.

One neighbour was having tea when she heard the smoke alarm going off but said another neighbour had already called 999 and asked for the fire service.

She said: "This is the second time this has happened. The first was in March. We didn't know what to do."

Lorraine Stephens-Lay of Sharman Close, Barbourne, Worcester, said: "My main reaction was shock. You think 'not again!' I feel sorry for whoever the owner is. I feel sorry for the landlord.

"He worked hard on replacing the windows and doors and fence the last time there was a fire.

"It was more smoke I saw than flames. There was smoke coming out of all the windows."

One witness said: “I saw smoke coming out of the windows and fire coming out of the lounge. This happened before in March.

"It’s a real worry. This incident last time involved a shed. That went up really quickly. I rang Fortis this morning just to raise concerns. I didn’t leave my name.

"We do want to find some answers. We need to get together as neighbours.

“The firefighters had to break in. Half an hour after the fire I saw her (the tenant) running up here towards the house. "There is a feeling of ‘oh no, not again!’ We’re almost not surprised. That’s why we’re angry.”

Another neighbour who is a mum said: “That’s twice now. It makes everyone on edge. It doesn’t make you feel safe. It’s such a nice area, so reputable.”

One neighbour said the woman who lived at the house had only just moved back in around two weeks ago following the original blaze.

A scenes of crime officer could be seen taking photographs in the garden and Phil Berry, a fire investigation officer with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended to look more closely at the causes of the fire, having also attended on the night of the fire.

At the height of the blaze four fire engines attended - three from Worcester and one from Droitwich responded to the kitchen and living room fire.

Police and ambulance services also responded to the incident.

An ambulance spokesman confirmed no one was injured in the incident.