ARSONISTS have attacked a house in where a drug addict died earlier this year. A 31-year-old man was inside the house in Unity Street, Sheerness, when it was targeted between 7.15am and 7.30am last night.

He discovered the fire and put it out before serious damage was caused. At the same address, Paul Anderson, 26, died from a heroin overdose on May 27. He had finished a prison sentence for supplying drugs days earlier. An inquest recently recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Swale police are appealing for information about the arson. Det Sgt John Coull said he would like to speak to anyone who saw anything or may have seen people in the alleyway behind the house around the time.

Voices were heard in the alleyway, a popular cut-through, about 15 minutes before the fire was started. Det Sgt Coull said: "We are still looking for a motive, but I believe the address itself was targeted. This was not random. It was not an accidental fire."

The arsonist got into the back garden and set fire to the ground floor bathroom through the window. The man inside, the property's owner living there temporarily, was awake in another room and saw the smoke.

A laundry bin caught fire. The man extinguished the flames, but he was not injured. Considerable smoke damage was caused.

Police are appealing to neighbours for information. Contact 01795 584165.