Three men were forced to escape through a second-storey window when the building they were sleeping in was set on fire on Tuesday night.

They were staying above the Bell Music, guitar and drums shop, in Ewell Road, Tolworth, while renovation work was being done.

The arsonist broke into the back of the property on Tuesday, June 26, at 10pm and set fire to debris which was at the back of the house.

The builders were trapped upstairs and forced to escape through a second-floor window onto a neighbouring roof, where they waited until the fire brigade arrived.

A fire engine from Surbiton station attended the blaze. A brigade spokesman said: We managed to put the fire out and save around 90 per cent of the shop. The three men were lucky to escape because they were trapped upstairs by the fire.

We were told by the builders there was no one else in the building, but we checked anyway because people dont realise that you often get people squatting in buildings being refurbished.

The fire was discovered by a dispatcher at Surbiton Cars who was working the late shift. He attempted to douse the flames, using a bucket of water, and called the fire brigade.

One of the builders suffered minor smoke inhalation but was later released from hospital.

Kingston police are not currently linking the fire to serial arsonist the Tolworth Torcher, who has set numerous fires in and around Tolworth Rise South in the past two years, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Recent statistics released by London Fire Brigade revealed there were 58 deliberate fires set in properties in Kingston between April 1999 and March 2001.

Despite this alarming statistic, the figure was the second lowest in London, behind Richmond. There were 80 fires set in Sutton, 203 in Croydon and 258 in Southwark over the same period.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen something suspicious at Bell Music, which is located near the junction of Ewell Road and Browns Road. Anyone with information ring Detective Sergeant Tim Bunkall on 020 8541 1212.