Northern Ireland fire crews tackled an early morning blaze at a construction site in Dungannon on Saturday.

The row of newly developed terraced houses, on Milltown Street, went on fire at around 5am. Locals, including a number of elderly people, were evacuated.

Two hours after extinguishing the blaze, crews were recalled to fight another fire.

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No one was reported injured, although four homes were destroyed, with another being extensively damaged. One house on the terrace was saved.

According to Cookstown Station Commander Paul McCloskey, the heat generated by the fire, also affected houses in the immediate area.

Yesterday, the Fire and Rescue Service said they could not rule out foul play.

"Their windows began to crack and their fascia boards started to melt, and they suffered minor scorch damage."

"As a precaution these houses had to be evacuated, and there was a number of pensioners living there," the Commander told the BBC.

Police have since investigated the scene, and detectives are appealing for information.

(PR/JM)