Pet shop gutted by arson blaze

A DEVASTATING fire in a pet shop in Sackville Road is being treated as arson.

The blaze gutted George's Pet Supplies early on Monday and provided the first major test for the navy green goddess crews in Bexhill.

Shop owners Carol and George Soulsby are "totally stunned" by the attack, but praised the skill of the replacement firefighters.

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The crew, on standby throughout the eight-day fire strike, arrived at the scene just FOUR minutes after the 999 call was received.

Flames were put out within fifteen minutes and the cautious crew even returned hours later to dampen smouldering ashes and prevent reignition.

On Monday George told the Observer:"We just can't believe it! I didn't think we had any enemies. Who would want to do this to us?

"Last week someone scratched the glass of the window. It thought it was paint and tried to wipe it off, but it was scratched deep into the glass."

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Asked if they would re-open, George said: "It would take more than a lick of paint to get this back up again. I would not be surprised if there was structural damage."

Of the Royal Naval crews who attended the blaze, he said: "Obviously it was a devilishly difficult job for them. I can't give them enough praise."

Inspector Max Mosely said : "The situation at the moment is that we are almost certain it was an arson attack. Because the fire brigade are not available to declare the building safe, we are finding an independent surveyor."

George's fears of structural damage were confirmed when Rother inspectors declared the building is unsafe to enter due to bad charring on the roof..

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Inspector Mosely hopes more witnesses can come forward to confirm what may have been an imporant sighting. He said: "It may be that someone was seen driving away from the scene. The police will be very interested to hear from anyone with information.

"This was a serious fire which caused a lot of damage. We need the public to help."

At the scene, Collective Beauty Clinic owner Joy Felton looked at the gutted shell of the shop between hers and the ash-filled pet shop. She said: "We were just about to expand!

"We had been refurbishing the empty shop next door. We have spent so much money on it - about 5,500. We were hoping to move in just before Christmas," said Joy.

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"That's off for a while now! But I am pleased to say that the original place next door is untouched and will remain open for business.

"It just means that our expansion has been delayed slightly...!"

Military media are currently handling inquiries about fires. They said: "We had a call at 04.21am where police received a report from a member of the public that there was a serious fire in a pet shop in Sackville Road in Bexhill. Initially, two green goddesses and vehicles with breathing apparatus were dispatched. The crews were faced with a serious fire at the premises.

"We got the call at 04.21 and we were at the scene by 04.25. The fire was out within 14 minutes."

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