A SUSPECTED arson attack has forced the Cotswold Care Hospice to close one of its shops.
Investigations are under way into three fires in Stonehouse, all of which police believe were started deliberately.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 3.40am on Monday when a building used for storage and kitchen facilities for the Cotswold Care Shop in High Street was engulfed in flames.
Fire crews also tackled fires in a recycling skip behind the old police station and in a rubbish bin, which set an electricity box alight. A window at Park Junior School was broken at around the same time.
Emma Luther, 33, was staying with her boyfriend in a neighbouring flat when the shop fire started.
She said: "The flames were 6ft high and there was so much smoke it was coming into the flat. People started coming out of their homes and staring in disbelief.
"There was another fire beneath the flats – flames were lapping up to the electricity circuit box. Then the box caught fire and there were loud cracking noises and white sparks sprayed across the car park. It was quite frightening."
Jules Eaton, chief executive of Cotswold Care Hospice in Minchinhampton, said the fire would hit the charity hard.
He said: "We will be unable to trade from these premises for months.
"Even though we are insured, every pound spent on repairing damage is a pound less spent on vital care, so the ultimate victims of this mindless attack are our patients."
