An investigation has been launched into a suspected arson which destroyed a Preston cafe.
Firefighters from the city’s station were called to the cafe on Manchester Road, Avenham at 1.33am on Monday morning.
They found the building, which had previously been a garage, already well alight.
Watch manager Graham Nelson, of Preston station, said crews had to cut the roller shutter off the front of the building to start fighting it from the roadside.
He said: “We got the fire quickly under control and had 10 firefighters in breathing apparatus tackling it for more than five hours.
“The building was open plan so the fire spread quite quickly, it was a total burn out.”
The fire chief confirmed the incident was being treated as “suspicious” and an investigation has been launched into the cause.
It had been feared the blaze had spread to a nearby barber’s shop, but the watch manager confirmed only a bit of smoke had spread to that building.
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