Animals and staff were evacuated after a suspected arson ripped through a retail park in Northamptonshire.
A huge fire broke out during prime shopping time at St James Retail Park in Northampton yesterday, forcing people and animals from the Pets at Home and Dunelm to take cover.
No injuries were reported after the safe evacuation, but some of the stores were damaged by flames while others suffered smoke damage.
Footage from the scene showed huge flames rising from shops, which was visible for miles.
Three people have now been arrested on suspicion of arson.
They remain in police custody after the fire, which detectives believe was ‘started deliberately.’
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Tuff said: ‘At the present time, we believe this fire to have been started deliberately and throughout the day, have made a number of fast-paced enquiries which has led to these three arrests.
‘However, I now want to appeal to the public for any information which could help our investigation. If you were in, or near, the Dunelm store this afternoon and saw anything suspicious, please contact us.
‘I am particularly interested in speaking to a man who allegedly saw people setting fires in the Dunelm toilets a short time before the incident was reported.
‘This incident has not only caused significant damage and disruption but will have had a very serious effect on the wellbeing of the local people who work in Dunelm and the surrounding stores. Therefore if anyone knows anything, I would please urge you to come forward.’
The emergency services were alerted at about 3pm and they stayed at the scene until this morning to put out the fire.
Some roads surrounding the retail park in Northampton will remain closed until 5am tomorrow, when the businesses will be able to open as normal, the police said.
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