A man has been arrested after a huge fire ripped through a Farmfoods on Moorland Road, Burslem.
The 53-year-old suspect is believed to have been involved in lighting the fire, which happened yesterday (23 May). Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Services were called to the scene just after 1.45pm.
Eyewitnesses claim that a fight started between two individuals outside the shop. They also claim that the crisp aisle inside the shop was set alight, which started the fire.
Onlookers then watched as smoke billowed out of the shopfront. Farmfood staff and shoppers escaped the premises safely.
As the fire progressed, neighbouring buildings were evacuated and police advised homes in the vicinity to keep their windows and doors closed.
More fire engines appeared at the scene, with the 5th engine arriving on Moorland Road at 3.04pm. The fire continued for several hours and Moorland Road was closed off at 7.05pm.
The police statement arrived at 5.36pm. It announced that they had arrested a suspect on suspicion of arson.
Police are still appealing for information from eyewitnesses. Anyone who has information regarding the event should contact the police on 101 and by quoting incident 331 of 23 May.
Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk
