Fire crews were called out to Derwent Street in Workington this afternoon after somebody set fire to a homeless man's belongings in an outbuilding - including his sleeping bag.

The man had been staying in the building, which was part of an empty detached house, said a Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service spokesman.

It happened at around 1pm today.

"Somebody had set light to his belongings - and the fire could have spread," said the spokesman, adding that the man who owned to goods that were torched turned up as the crews were putting out the fire.