A NEW show home on a Newport estate containing some of the latest technology was damaged in a suspicious fire.

Detectives are investigating the incident in Bishpool and police are now taking steps to prevent any further incidents on the estate.

Newport Housing Trust has been involved in an extensive programme of replacing post-war prefabs with new bungalows for mainly elderly residents and the show home hit by the fire was due to be opened to the public next month.

Director Mr Phil Toms said: "We are bitterly disappointed. We had only just installed some new technology into the show bungalow to demonstrate a 'Managed Care Environment' as a pilot to see if we could help to reduce bed-blocking and bottlenecks in intermediate care in the city.

"This fire will put back our plans several months."

Police, with local community support officers, are stepping up operations in the area to deter further acts.