£25,000 arson attack on Telford travel firm
Arsonists caused an estimated £25,000 damage in an attack on a Telford travel business which destroyed a minibus and a caravan and killed some pet rabbits.
Fifteen firefighters who were called out to the scene of the blaze at M&B Travel, in Trench Road, shortly after 7am yesterday found both the Transit van minibus and the caravan engulfed in flames.
The fire also took hold of a wooden fence around the minibus and coach hire business and set a shed in the neighbouring garden alight along with a hutch, killing the rabbits.
Trench Road was closed for about half an hour.
Ian Leigh, watch manager at Wellington fire station, said: "The fire is being treated as deliberate."
Inspector Mark Ashford confirmed the incident was being treated as arson and added: "The fire service believe the blaze was started between 4am and 6am yesterday and I would appeal for anyone who was in the area and saw anything suspicious or anyone who has information about the incident to call police on 101."
Brian Ball, managing director of M and B Travel, said the minibus and caravan were parked down the side of the main building and he had left the premises secure at 3am.
"The caravan belonged to my nephew, Ian Ball, who is a director of the company," he said. "It didn't look as though someone had tried to get into the main building. It looks as if the caravan was targeted and the fire spread to the minibus and fence.
"The caravan was only three years old and was worth about £15,000 and the minibus was a 2004 plate and because it is specially adapted and kitted out was worth about £10,000."
By Simon Hardy
