A HOUSING trust employee had a terrifying ordeal after would-be thieves locked him in a flat and started a fire, blocking his only way out.

Fire crews were already in the area of the Nevin Road flats in Blacon, at 1.20pm on Wednesday.

Firefighter Jim Payne, of Chester Fire Brigade, said: 'Piles of furniture had been set alight and it was well away. We began to get the blaze under control when we became aware of a man shouting, trying to get our attention from the first floor.'

The man was a TrustWorks inspector, from Chester and District Housing Trust maintenance department, earlier the victim of an attempted robbery when two youths locked him in a flat and demanded he hand over his mobile phone by shouting through the door.

After refusing to hand over the phone, the pair left the building and started the blaze that blocked the victim's exit from the building.

Cheshire Constabulary spokesman Mark Houghton said: 'Anyone with any information should contact Detective Constable Paul Wil-cock, of Chester Specialist Investigation Unit, on 01244 613150 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.'