Families had to be evacuated from a block of flats after a burning tyre was thrown into the stairwell.

All three emergency services were called after a fire broke out in a block of flats in Newtown .

Teams from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service were the first to attend the incident at 9.41pm on Wednesday, August 16 in Norwood Road.

Crews from Caversham Road, Wokingham Road, Dee Road, Whitley Wood, Bracknell and Wokingham fire stations were sent to the scene.

A spokeswoman from the fire service said: "Upon arrival, firefighters found that the fire had gone out by itself so firefighters used a ventilation fan to clear the smoke from the area.

"Firefighters were at the scene for just over an hour and Thames Valley Police is investigating the cause of the fire."

Residents were temporarily evacuated by the firefighters for their safety.

An ambulance crew and ambulance officer was called around 9.44pm, however no one was injured in the fire.

The fire broke out when a burning tyre was tossed into the stairwell of the flats.

A spokeswoman from Thames Valley Police said: "The incident is currently being investigated as arson.

"If anyone witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area, please call Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting incident 1644 of 16 August."