The trial of a Tenby man accused of setting fire to his flat has been suddenly halted -and the defendant cleared.

The move came after an expert told Swansea Crown Court there was a possibility that the blaze, which caused £36,000 worth of damage, had started accidentally.

Steven Daniel Williams, aged 26, stood on a balcony outside the burning flat while a large crowd of people looked up at the blaze.

Firemen had to tell him three times to return to the building and make his escape before finally grabbing him and pulling him inside.

Williams had denied arson at Northcliff House in High Street, Tenby, on October 27 last year, while being reckless as to whether the lives of others would be put in danger. He also denied a lesser, alternative charge of simple arson.

Kevin Riordan, prosecuting, had told the jury how a fire broke out in flat 11, at the top of the building, while Williams was still inside.

Another resident of Northcliff House, Jason James, hammered on Williams's door without gaining any response and then went around the other 10 apartments in the building alerting other residents.

Firemen smashed down the door to number 11 and saw Williams standing on a balcony outside the kitchen.

Retained fire officer Christopher James said Williams appeared to be drowsy and twice approached officers before retreating further along the balcony.

He approached a third time and Mr. James was able to pull him in through a window.

Williams was taken to Withybush Hospital, where he was arrested on his discharge.

During interviews, Williams said he thought he had fallen asleep on the bed and awoke to find the flat ablaze. He assumed he had fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette and that the cigarette had started the fire.

But, claimed Mr. Riordan, the prosecution argued that the blaze started in the centre of the room and that the bed was too far away from the seat of the fire.

Williams told police he had been trying to give up alcohol and had been prescribed medication by his doctor. But on October 27 he had taken both alcohol and the medication.

Northcliff House was owned by a Cardiff company and leased to Pembrokeshire Housing Association, who estimated the damaged caused at £36,000.

Before Williams was required to give evidence at the trial, an expert in fires said the cause could not be identified and an accident could not be ruled out.

Judge Peter Heywood brought the trial to a close by directing the jury to return verdicts of not guilty, which they did.