Stretch limo wrecked in arson attack

Jan 31 2009 by Peter Leathley, The Journal

A STRETCH limousine was destroyed after being targeted by an arsonist in a Northumberland village, police said yesterday.

The hire car was deliberately set on fire by a person who broke into the compound where it was being kept at Belford Industrial Estate, in Northumberland, on Sunday evening.

The car, thought to be owned by village company Select Limousines, was damaged beyond repair with the blaze spreading to a second limousine. Firefighters stopped the fire spreading to other vehicles in the compound. Northumbria Police and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service are still investigating the incident.

The fire service was alerted to the blaze at the compound on the outskirts of the village at Station Road, used for storage by Select Limousines, at about 5.30pm on Sunday. It is thought the culprit broke into the area and smashed a window in the limousine.

The fire service believes an accelerant was poured into the vehicle before it was set alight.

Flames spread to a neighbouring limousine which suffered external heat damage.

However the vehicle set on fire was damaged beyond repair, with its engine, passenger and drive compartments gutted, and severe heat and smoke damage to the rest of the limousine.

Station manager for North Glenn Blaney said last night: “An unknown person broke into the compound and it appears that they broke the window with a brick.

“It appears an accelerant was used due to the extent and speed of the fire, they poured something in there. The actual fire spread was onto the other limousines. The second one was not really extensive but there was extensive damage to the first one.

“The fire was obviously set maliciously, police and fire service are investigating still.

“We are treating it as suspicious.”

A police spokesman said: “At 5.27pm on Sunday, January 25 police received a report from the fire service about a fire at the Belford Industrial Estate, Belford, Northumberland.

“Police and the fire service attended and the fire was extinguished. Nobody was hurt. Police and the fire service are investigating the cause of the fire. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Ian Carruthers, of Select Limousines, based at Blue Bell Farm on West Street, declined to comment yesterday.

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