Carpet store blaze 'started deliberately,' says fire service

A FIRE which destroyed a former carpet store is being treated as an arson attack.

Fire officials confirmed this week that the inferno which left the building on College Road in Masbrough a blackened shell last Thursday was thought to have been started deliberately.

The fire also left the neighbouring Masbrough Chapel, which dates from 1793, severely damaged.

More than 40 firefighters from five stations were called to the scene at the height of the blaze, which saw Centenary Way closed due to a large amount of smoke from the fire.

The roof of the building collapsed, as well as one side of the building, while people in neighbouring flats were advised to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution.

A high-volume pump was brought to the incident to get more water onto the flames from a nearby canal.

Part of the building was knocked down on Friday and but it was not clear when today if the rest of the warehouse would be completely demolished.

A fire service spokesman said: “The fire was finally extinguished on Saturday at around 1am.

“An investigation has concluded that the blaze was started deliberately.”