POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a father and his baby had to be evacuated from their home after a van was set alight.

London Fire Service was called to the house on Fencepiece Road in Ilford at 11pm on Thursday (December 3).

Officers found a white Prima Star van had been set on fire, which had then spread to the front of the house.

The man and the child only became aware of the fire when the vehicle alarm was activated.

Police confirm there was no known fault to the vehicle and are treating the incident as suspicious.

The house is opposite the Maypole pub and was started around the same time the pub was closing.

Anyone with information should contact DC Gilbert on 020 8345 2722 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.