Supermarket evacuated after 'deliberate' fire

A supermarket has been evacuated after two caravans near the store were set ablaze.

Firefighters were called to Wirral Park Road in Glastonbury, Somerset, shortly after 20:00 BST on Saturday to reports of a fire near the Tesco supermarket. Three crews attended the scene, calling on two further crews in an effort to stop the fire from spreading to the store.

The caravans were gutted by the fire, with damage also caused to about 10% of the exterior of the store, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The cause was believed to be deliberate, it added.

Nobody was believed to have been injured, firefighters said.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers had launched an investigation into the fire.

Sgt Simon Lancey, of the Glastonbury neighbourhood policing team, said: "We are treating the incident as suspicious at this time, pending the outcome of ongoing fire investigation work.

"The fire caused a significant amount of damage but, fortunately, nobody was injured.

"If this fire was started deliberately, then that was an incredibly dangerous act."

In a post on Facebook, Tesco staff said the store was closed for Saturday evening, but it was able to open as normal on Sunday morning.

Crews from Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerton and Wells fire stations attended the incident, using breathing equipment, three hose reels and an aerial ladder platform.

The fire service confirmed the fire had been brought under control by 22:40, with the scene left in the hands of Tesco staff and Avon and Somerset Police.

A Tesco spokesperson told the BBC: "Our Glastonbury Superstore is open as usual after a brief closure yesterday evening.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.