Fire-fighters in three-hour battle to halt fire (From Free Press Series)

Fire-fighters in three-hour battle to halt fire

A BLAZE which ripped through a row of Abergavenny shops began in a rubbish bin, police have confirmed.

Last Wednesday fire-fighters battled for more than three hours to control the blaze which destroyed the Iceland store in Cibi Walk.

Nearby stores Peacocks, Partner's Stationary and Boston Pine also suffered severe damage.

The alarm was raised at about 2.30pm by a police patrol. Fire crews using eight fire engines, two water dowsers and two hydraulic platforms brought the blaze under control just before 4am, but some were still on site throughout the morning.

Dorothy Clissold, 71, who lives just yards from where the blaze took place, was upset that the town had suffered such a blow.

She said: "I didn't hear the fire in the night, but when I woke up and looked outside I was shocked to see the devastation.

"It's really sad because Iceland just had the whole shop refurbished. The loss of trade for all the shops is terrible.You think you only see these sort of things on TV. I can't believe it."

King Street and Queen Street were closed for several hours causing disruption to motorists as structural engineers did checks.

It is likely to take up to six months to repair the Iceland store, which had only recently completed a £200,000 refurbishment programme.

Builders are currently working to make the store and surrounding buildings safe, and are hoping to re-open Cibi Walk to the public by the end of the week.

An Iceland spokeswoman said that the store's 22 staff are being offered temporary positions at the company's nearest stores in Ebbw Vale, Cwmbran and Hereford.

Detective Sergeant Howard Salmon said investigations had found the fire began in a rubbish bin at the rear of the store in Queen Street.

He said: "We believe the source of the fire had been smouldering for some time.

"Whether it was deliberate or an accident, at this stage we cannot say, enquiries are continuing."

A spokesman for Iceland said: "We will be working hard to repair the damage and reopen the store as soon as possible.

"It is too early to give an accurate estimation of costs and opening dates."