A 23-year-old man is under arrest in connection with a fire which broke out at midday on Friday in a village in the Nicosia district, near the state forest, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Saturday.

Police said that they have been notified about a fire at around 12.30 on Friday, with officers from Klirou police station and four fire engines from Panayia Forest Station responding. The fire was extinguished having scorched three decares of wild vegetation.

Investigations which followed indicated that the fire had started from metal cutting equipment being operated by a 23-year-old who was working on a home that is under construction.

The man was found to be in Cyprus illegally. He was arrested and is due in Nicosia district court later on Saturday.