Waitrose burns to the ground in Banstead in suspicious fire (From This Is Local London)

Waitrose burns to the ground in Banstead in suspicious fire

10:26am Saturday 13th December 2008 in Where I Live By David Lindsell

Police are treating with suspicion a huge fire which burnt Waitrose in Banstead to the ground last night.

The middle section of the High Street was cordoned off by police as investigators start to sift through the rubble for evidence.

The blaze is believed to have begun on the roof of the store last night at around 9pm.

Roads were closed and residents evacuated as 10 fire engines fought the inferno.

Georgia Penny, 16, heard a deafening bang from her flat further up the High Street.

She said: "I looked outside and the sky was orange with the flames. The store was like a ball of fire.

"There were people out there in their pyjamas. It was crazy. This is the biggest thing to happen to Banstead in 90 years."

Bob Jordan, a retired film cameraman who made films with Michael Winner and Hammer Horror, watched firemen hosing down next door shops.

"It was a tremendous fire," he said. "The wind was blowing it like mad. There were sparks flying off it like on bonfire night."

Up the road at the Woolpack pub, drinkers felt the earth move. Barman Matt Bramley, 34, said: "There was a couple of tremors or explosions. To feel it this end it must have been quite some fire. Half the pub left just to have a nose."

Some people were evacuated from their homes to nearby Banstead Baptist Church but none stayed the night.

Waitrose bosses were at the scene last night and said the damage to the building was extensive but no-one had been injured.

They said the store would be rebuilt but it was too early to say when.

A distress fund for residents and shop workers has been started by the supermarket.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said last night: "Surrey Police and Surrey Fire and Rescue are currently at the scene of a large fire at a Waitrose Store in High Street, Banstead, which is being treated as potentially suspicious.

"Police were alerted to a fire on the roof at 8.49pm this evening.

"The fire has progressed rapidly through the store which is almost totally destroyed.

"Local road closures close to the high street have been put in place and residents living close to the fire are currently being evacuated.

"Around 10 fire service pumps are in attendance at the scene. No one is believed to be injured at this time."

"People are asked to avoid the high street area if at all possible."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Were you there? Did you take a picture? Contact David Lindsell on 0208 330 9547.