Grocery store gutted in 'arson'

Six fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze

Police are treating as arson a fire which gutted a grocery store in east Belfast.

The alarm was raised at about 0200 BST on Saturday.

Six fire engines were sent to deal with the blaze at the store at Holywood Arches on the Holywood Road.

Police say flammable materials were discovered close to the shop.

Fire officer John Denver said it was a difficult operation for firefighters who had to use breathing apparatus and thermal image cameras.

"It took us approximately an hour and a half to get the fire under control, using ten breathing apparatus wearers and a number of water jets," he said.

"We had to use this because of the thickness of the smoke.

"There were no lives at risk in the sense of the public, but because of the nature of the fire, there certainly was a risk to firefighters."

The fire means 11 people are to lose their jobs.