Children ‘torch a Town cottage’

Monday 24th March 2008, 9:30AM GMT.

Flames leap high above the roof of the Taste of India. (Picture by Jonathan Garrit, 0554191)

A DERELICT cottage in Burnt Lane was destroyed by fire yesterday – and children were quickly blamed. Firefighters were called at 5.29pm and watch commander, Matthew Roger said the two-storey property, Albion Cottage, was burning strongly when they arrived.

‘Our priority has been to extinguish the fire and mitigate the effects to its surroundings,’ he said. ‘We are concerned about the integrity of the structure which is why we are defensive firefighting from the outside.’

Chris Blin is a director of the company that owns the cottage. Mr Blin, who lives next door to the gutted building, blames children for the blaze. ‘I’m 90% sure that it’s been caused by kids who seem to go in it constantly,’ he said.