THREE people from Bow have been arrested by police after £50,000 worth of damage was caused to a man's cottage in Bow.

Crediton Police confirmed that the three were aged between 23 and 65 and that they are currently helping them with their inquiries.

Home owner Robert Crowley returned to his home after celebrating Valentine's Day with his loved one to find his cottage had been broken into.

More than £50,000 worth of damage had been caused to the cottage, each room trashed and doused with a flammable liquid.

Opening his front door on Saturday, February 14, just hours after the attack, he was hit by a strong smell of what he thought was petrol.

The 61-year-old said he felt afraid as he noticed the word "DEAD" scrawled across his living room wall in blood red paint.

Thick, black liquid was poured all across the floors of his living room and kitchen, completely soaking his carpets.

The wires of his electric appliances - including expensive CCTV cameras – had been cut, rendering the appliances useless.

Emergency services were called to the property shortly after, where the fire service deemed the property unsafe – forcing Mr Crowley to find elsewhere to stay.

Mr Crowley said he had cancelled his home contents insurance previously due to a lack of finances.

Since moving to Bow in 2010, Mr Crowley says he has suffered numerous attacks from neighbours and he even appeared in a television documentary about "nightmare neighbours" last year.

Mr Crowley said he previously fitted bars to his windows and installed security cameras just to feel safe in his own home.

Detective Sergeant Gus Cottey said anyone who had experienced harassment or had information about it can contact police on 101 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 111.

He added: "We will always act on information passed to us to support the community and the area where we live.

"To all members of the public I would appeal for people to come forward if you have lived in Bow and have had any harassment, report it to the police."