Landlady in shock after arson attack

3:08pm Friday 10th October 2008

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A LANDLADY was left ‘shocked and scared’ after a suspected arson attack caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to her Honeybourne pub.

Vicky Woosey runs The Gate Inn on Weston Road, which was damaged by fire in the early hours of yesterday (9) morning. The alarm was raised by two Severn Trent workers who called the emergency services at around 12.30am.

The fire destroyed part of the wooden changing rooms connected to the pub, part of the roof and there is extensive smoke damage.

Mrs Woosey had the unhappy job of beginning the clear up yesterday where she was helped by some of the football team players who use the changing rooms every weekend.

She said: “It has completely destroyed part of the building and we are just going to start the clean up now. I think the damage is going to cost more than £2,000 to repair.

“I am in total shock at the moment. I live on site with my two young kids and it is so scary to think what might have happened had the fire got any worse.”

Mrs Woosey has run The Gate Inn for around 15 months and in that time she has been both flooded and burgled. She added: “It is a really bad time for the pub trade at the moment so this is the last thing I need. At the moment I feel like leaving.”

A crew from Evesham Fire Station attended the incident and were on site for more than four hours as they brought the fire under control and damped down hotspots.

A fire investigation team also attended and have now passed on responsibility for establishing a cause, to scenes of crime officers as the police are treating the incident as suspicious.

Anyone with information should call 08457 444 888 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.