A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting two fires in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.

Just after 11pm (Friday 27 December 2019), officers from Hunter Valley Police District were on the scene of a bushfire near Greta Street, Aberdare, when they noticed a man emerging from bushland covered in soot.

After police spoke with the man, he was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, before being taken to hospital for assessment.

Upon release, he was taken back to Maitland Police Station and charged with two counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread.

Police will allege in court the man deliberately lit two fires in bush area – one at about 3.30pm near Cessnock Road, Neath, and the second near Greta Street, Aberdare, about 11pm.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 29 January 2020.