RESIDENTS woken by crackling sounds gathered to watch as an office building burnt to the ground in the middle of the night.

The unused office building in Boston Drive, Bourne End, was destroyed after a suspected arson attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Firefighters from Beaconsfield and High Wycombe contained the fire after receiving a call at 3.22am.

Adam Lock, 22, of Roman Way, Bourne End, was woken by the fire despite living more than a quarter of a mile away.

He said: "I heard a crackling sound like fireworks. I could see big flames from my bedroom window."

Worried Adam drove down to find out where the flames were coming from.

He added: "The fire brigade were already there when I got down and took a few pictures and by the time I'd finished there were no sides left to the building."

Four jets and one turntable ladder had to be used to bring the blaze under control.

Mark Jolliffe, of Furlong Road, Bourne End, said he could see the fire from his house.

He said: "It was a large fire. You could see the flames going higher than the rooftops of the houses. There was quite a gathering as they put out the fire."

Firefighter John Taylor, from Beaconsfield Fire Station, said: "We did get the fire under control by about 4.40am but the building was totally destroyed."

Buckinghamshire Fire Service confirmed the blaze was a suspected arson attack and police are not ruling out a link between the incident and a fire at a Guide hut, in Bisham, last Thursday.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Aaron Chappell on 01494 465888