AN ARSON probe is underway into whether a blaze that tore through shops in a Hampshire town was started deliberately.

The fire, which ripped through six shops, completely destroying a charity shop and a family-run business, is thought to have started in a wheelie bin.

This morning the clear-up operation was underway in Ringwood as town leaders pledged to help get the businesses back on their feet as soon as possible.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue say the blaze was being treated as a potential arson and they have launched a joint investigation into the cause with Hampshire Police.

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “There is a joint police and fire investigation, the fact that there is an investigation going on means that arson is one of the outcomes we are looking at.”

He confirmed the fire was thought to have started in a wheelie bin at the rear of the Sue Ryder charity shop and Celebrations card shop in Meeting House Lane at around 7.50am yesterday.

Around 50 firefighters tackled the blaze, with the aerial platform also required to allow access to the building’s roof, and a hazardous materials vehicle was also present.

Ringwood resident Noel Coates, who lives in a flat behind the scene of the blaze, said: “I woke up to the smell of burning just after 8am and saw smoke billowing out of the roof.”

He also thought a nearby parked car had also been damaged.

Another passerby, Guy Bampton, said he had spoken with a morning dog walker who said he had seen the bin on fire around the back of the shops at about 8.10am, ten minutes before the roof of the building was engulfed in flames.

Although the fire was contained and largely dealt with by 10am, crews remained on the scene for several hours to monitor the building for hot spots.

Mayor of Ringwood Michael Thierry said that the town council is looking at how they can help and said that the impact on Celebrations Cards would be huge.

Cllr Thierry added: “I really do feel for them, it is a family business. One has to say that very often a fire like this is a closure of a business, I hope they manage to come back again. I am sure we as a council will do all we can to help them.”

He said that next week the town will hold its Christmas Lights Switch-On and he expects people to rally round the businesses affected .

Cllr Thierry added: “What I do really feel is that the locals will respond to this and the event will be brilliant because the people of the town always rally round in these particular situations and they will want to come out to support those people affected.”

Ringwood Town and New Forest District councillor Christine Ford was stunned when she heard the news.

Cllr Ford said: “I am devastated, until we know quite how it started I can’t really make a judgement.”

“We want to support the businesses and those affected, there are at least two listed buildings near it, they are the Meeting House and The Chapel, and there’s our revered pub the Inn on the Furlong.

“I heard about the fire at 8am this morning, I don’t know how long it had been going on before people noticed it, but I’m just glad nobody was hurt.”