BREAKING NEWS - Man arrested in connection with bar blaze
Wednesday 12.30pm - A MAN has been arrested after a lakeside restaurant and bar was gutted by fire in what is believed to have been an arson attack..
Just six days after a roof fire caused severe damage to The Crescent Stores in Leasingham, fire ripped through Woody's bar and restaurant at Woodland Waters, Ancaster on Sunday night, shortly after 10pm.
It severely damaged the bar, restaurant and kitchen, while the function room and rest of the building was affected by smoke and water.
Seven fire crews from Grantham, Sleaford, Corby Glen, Waddington and Brant Broughton, plus the command support unit, were called out to tackle the blaze.
Police and fire investigators believe the fire was started deliberately and that some sort of fuel was used to ignite it. Spokesman james Newall told the Sleaford Standard a 29-year-old local man has been arrested and released on bail until May 23 pending further enquiries. no charges have been brought at this time.
Three people were seen running from the area at about 10.30pm. All were wearing hooded jackets, one was described as being around 5ft 11in and the other two about 5ft 6in.
A car was also seen leaving Rookery Lane and travelling towards the A153 a short time later.
The bar and restaurant had only just closed when the fire started and owner Malcolm Corradine was alerted by an alarm at his home on the site.
He said: "I came straight down when it happened. I tried using a couple of fire extinguishers but it was too far gone."
The bar used to be leased out but Mr Corradine had run it as part of the fishing lakes and camping site for the last three to four years. He and wife Denise have owned the site for 12 years. Business was just beginning to build up after the quiet winter spell.
The blaze incinerated the bar's contents and caused the roof to cave in, leaving only the timber-cladded brick shell. Firefighters managed to put it out by 1.30am
Mr Corradine added: "If anybody had been in there it does not bear thinking about. It has devastated us for this season.
"We will rebuild it and get on as soon as we can. We might be able to save the function room but it has a lot of smoke damage indoors.
"It will not be a quick fix but we will do what we can to keep the business going as we have a number of full time staff. We have lots of weddings, functions and balls booked for this year and that is all up in the air now, but we will try and salvage things for them.
"I am devastated but I have had lots of offers of help already."
Reader Colin Ironmonger was passing on Rookery Lane and sent in a photo of the blaze at its height.
Officers are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with any information on the incident, to call them on 01476 402222.
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Weather for Sleaford
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
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