ARSONISTS are believed to be behind fires at two tattoo parlours this morning.

Crews raced to The Original Body Works Tattoo Studio, in Corringham Road, Stanford-le-Hope at 12.05am after a resident living nearby reported seeing flames.

Fire investigation officer, Tony Clark, said the fire was put out by a resident before crews arrived.

He said: “A resident called us after noticing fire was coming from the shop front.

“They took a dry powder extinguisher from the kitchen in their property, and put out the fire, which was caused by an inflammable liquid. This was squirted through the roller shutter letter box."

The fire caused around £150 worth of damage to the shop’s front door.

Around fifteen minutes after the Stanford-le-hope incident, two more fire crews were sent to a blaze at Tilbury Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio in Dock Approach Road, Tilbury.

This fire is believed to have been started with a similar inflammable liquid, which was poured through part of the shop roof and then ignited.

A woman, in her forties, living above the property, escaped the blaze uninjured.

She was given oxygen by fire crews and left in the care of the Essex ambulance service.

Her flat did not have a smoke alarm fitted.

The fire was fully extinguished by 12.50am, but the ground floor of the property was heavily smoke logged.

Essex Police are now investigating both fires.

Spokeswoman Laura Anderson said: “We are working with the fire service to establish the cause of both fires, but we are treating both incidents as arson.

“The investigation is still in its early stages, but we are not ruling out the possibility both fires are linked.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call South Ockendon CID serious crime team on 0300 333 4444, or call crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.