A woman accused of starting a fire at flats where she lives has had the charges against her dropped.

Kerry Baker had been due to stand trial at Swindon Crown Court next week charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

But after the 23-year-old's defence team got a fire experts report which backed up her account of what took place prosecutors offered no evidence.

And Judge Douglas Field today entered formal not guilty verdicts on the charge and an alternative of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, said "It is possible the fire could have been started accidentally from a smouldering cigarette as Miss Baker alleged. There is nothing to contradict that so the Crown offer no evidence."

Bakerhad been accused of starting the blaze at the flats on Charlotte Square, Trowbridge, on January 4 last year.

The fire at the ground floor flat, which belongs to Selwood Housing, is thought to have caused about £2,000 damage.

The fire brigade were called to the scene shortly after 11pm on the Friday night and used six hose reels to extinguish the blaze.

No-one was injured as a result of the fire, which was thought to have been started in a bed, but 10 other tenants in the building had to be temporarily evacuated.