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The ABI says insurers have faced a spike in property fire damage claims and that customers are using arson to raise cash to ease their money worries during the financial crisis.

The association says that there has been a "suspicious" jump of more than a fifth in fire payouts over the past two years, including a sharp rise in £500,000 plus claims from commercial building fires.

Commercial fire claims among ABI members have risen more than 20% to £444m over two years.