SHOCKING footage shows the moment a huge fire erupts at a brand new Greggs store just two days before a grand opening.
The attack, which took place just outside Coventry last night, is being treated by police as “arson.”
Ian BennettA new Greggs outlet just outside Coventry went up in flames before it had even opened[/caption]
CoventryLive/BPMImages taken from the scene showed extensive damage[/caption]
Ian BennettCops are investigating the fire for arson[/caption]
Fire crew from Foleshill and Nuneaton bravely battled the blaze for around five hours on Friday.
Terrifying footage captured by a local businessman shows the building engulfed in flames.
Thick smoke billowed into the air as stunned motorists watched on as they drove by.
Images taken from the scene showed extensive damage as well as a lorry which was also destroyed.
Charred debris was strewn over the ground of the Greggs with the sign of the bakery chain badly singed.
Warwickshire Police said this morning they did not believe anyone was inside the building at the time.
However the force did say that “a full search will be carried out once the scene is safe to confirm this”.
The site on Longford Road was set to open on Monday.
A local business owner told The Sun: “We were driving home after going out for a curry and I looked and saw the roof of the unit glowing.
“The back of Greggs faces the road so it wasn’t till we had gone past that we saw smoke coming out from the front.
“By the time we had pulled over and stopped I could hear sirens and within a minute the entire unit was engulfed in flames.
“The fire service got a hose on it really quickly but by that time you could see the building and anything that was in it was past saving.”
A Greggs spokesperson said: “We are fully supporting the Police with their investigations.
“Thank you to them, and the local fire brigades who worked tirelessly last night to combat the fire.”
A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: “We are treating a fire at an industrial estate in Exhall as arson.
“Emergency services were called to the scene of the blaze at a business premises in Longford Road yesterday evening at around 8.20pm.
“At this time, we don’t believe anyone was in the building at the time but a full search will be carried out once the scene is safe to confirm this.”
A spokesman for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue said yesterday: “We were called at 8.05pm.
“We had two appliances initially, which extended to six and our turntable ladder.
“We had assistance from the West Midlands who sent two appliances.
“We left the scene at just gone 1am – it was quite a long job.
“Police will stay at the scene as the site is insecure at the minute.
“There is going to be fire investigation going out at 8am.”
CoventryLive/BPMGreggs said they are fully supporting police with the investigation[/caption]
A lorry was also destroyed in the processCoventryLive/BPM Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
