A Belgian man allegedly started 20 fires because he was jealous his girlfriend appeared on Blind Date.

Andrew Puype, 35, went on the arson spree after his girlfriend took part in the TV programme and won a date with a fireman.

He told a court he was madly jealous because his girlfriend spent a whole week on a holiday with a fireman as part of the programme.

The man is now facing a possible eight-year jail sentence.

The public prosecutor said: "Although there were no people hurt, the financial damage is immense. And since Puype started a period of terror in that period, he should be punished severely."