Arson Investigation Underway After Supermarket Fire

8 July 2010, 11:12 | Updated: 9 July 2010, 13:13

An arson investigation's started after a massive fire totally destroyed a Tesco store in Waterlooville.

Detectives have today confirmed they are treating a fire at a supermarket in Cowplain as arson.

Emergency services were called to the Tesco store in Grassmere Way at around 6.50pm on Wednesday, July 7.

A 37-year-old man who worked at the store received minor burns and the building was completely destroyed by the fire.

Detective Constable Emma Cooke said: "Our investigations so far indicate that this fire was started deliberately.

"We are taking this incident extremely seriously as this fire could easily have injured many more people or even claimed lives.

"I would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time of the fire and saw anyone acting suspiciously around the store to contact us.

"Equally, it is possible that people in the community may have heard rumours or have information about who started this fire.

"Anyone who knows anything should contact us so that we can stop whoever started this fire from carrying out further offences."

Anyone with any information should contact Waterlooville CID on 0845 045 45 45 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.