A traveller-owned mobile home was burned down in a grim twist to a bitter planning row.
On March 3, firefighters raced to the Buckinghamshire village of Dinton after receiving reports of a blaze.
The fire came less than a day after a row erupted over a group of travellers, who were issued a stop notice after they started developing the land without planning permission.
The order was issued due to the field being previously designated as a conservation area.
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Officers from Thames Valley Police have been seen approaching local residents for more information surrounding the blaze.
A spokesman for the force confirmed the incident was being treated as arson.
The stop notice was issued by Buckinghamshire Council, which ordered that no further vehicles or equipment could be brought onto the field.
However, large lorries carrying mobile homes continued to arrive on the land after the order was handed down.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman confirmed the incident was being treated as arson
| PAThames Valley Police confirmed it had received reports of the incident just after 7am.
The force added that the mobile home was empty at the time of the blaze.
Members of the public with information have been urged to call 101 or report online quoting reference 43260104600.
A man claiming to be the landowner told the BBC he put in a planning application on the Friday before the blaze, but pressed ahead with the development anyway.
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The stop notice was issued by Buckinghamshire Council
|The land was previously owned by Michael Cook, who sold it last year knowing it could strictly only be used for agricultural purposes.
After the sale, a section of the land was put up for action and sold off.
Mr Cook said after "multiple lorry-loads of rubbles" arrived to the field, his "worst fears" had come to fruition.
The man claiming to be the landowner refused to say whether he knew it was a conservation area, but admitted he was aware it was subject to a planning dispute.
Mr Cook said after 'multiple lorry-loads of rubbles' arrived to the field, his 'worst fears' had come to fruition
|GETTY
A High Court injunction was then granted to prevent further vehicles arriving at the field, which the council deemed an "unauthorised development" of the land.
After the order against the travelling community members was ordered, Buckinghamshire Council deputy leader Peter Strachan said: "We know that this has been a worrying issue for the local community, which is why we took immediate action as soon as we were able to.
"As with any legal matter, we must follow the correct procedures to ensure our actions taken are fully compliant with the law.
"We take these breaches very seriously and I hope this action sends a clear message to everyone that it is important to abide by rules and regulations.
"Where you do not, the Council will use all available levers to remedy breaches.
"We will continue to monitor the situation at Upton Road closely and consider any further action necessary."
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