ARSONISTS are thought to have started a fire in a wheelie bin that caused significant damage to a shop in Liddymore Road, Watchet, last night.

Two fire engines from Williton, one from Minehead and the aerial appliance from Bridgwater were sent to the scene shortly before midnight and found the blaze well alight.

It involved the shop storage area to the rear of the main building, which had spread and was finally extinguished using six breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, one compressed air foam jet, small tools and a thermal imaging camera.

There was significant damage to the main shop, and the rear storage area was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire was deemed to be deliberate ignition, started in a nearby wheelie bin.