Grocery store destroyed in fire

The William Street property, which adjoined Knox’s Cash and Carry, saw 10,000 worth of goods go up in smoke.

It was suspected that the culprits were children.

Tons of groceries, mainly tinned foods and washing powders were ruined and the shed itself was gutted.

Bursting cans and cider bottles were fired through the roof and exploding five-gallon drums of vegetable oil spread the blaze to all parts of the store.

The theory is that intruders set light to a pile of cardboard boxes which had been stacked against the outer wall of the store.

However, the main cash and carry with stock worth as much as 100,000 was unaffected and business was able to be carried on as usual the following morning

Owner Mr Richard Knox told the ‘MAIL’ that had the outbreak spread to the main building, the damage would have been colossal.

A police spokesman said the fire almost certainly started on the outside and was probably the work of trespassing children.