DETECTIVES believe a fire which gutted a derelict church building in Witney was started deliberately.

Firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze yesterday which ripped through the empty Astall House in Curbridge Road.

Thames Valley Police last night said they suspected the fire was started sometime between 10pm on Monday and 3am yesterday.

Witney Gazette:

No-one was injured or needed to be rescued from the building, which was scoured by forensic officers looking for clues after being made safe.

A total of five fire crews attended from across the county and there was also an aerial ladder used from adjacent land next to Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Primary School and St Hugh of Lincoln Nursery School.

The site, which is owned by the Archdiocese of Birmingham, is understood to have planning permission for demolition and replacement with a 52-bed care home and car park, subject to certain conditions, according to West Oxfordshire District Council.

Witney Gazette:

Picture: Mike Aspinall of DMK IT Services 

District councillor for Ducklington ward Ben Woodruff, whose children attend the school next door to the now burnt-out building, said he saw the investigating teams accessing the site.

He added planning permission had been granted by the council’s planning committee for the care home in February, with the home being run by Care UK.

The site was previously used as a retreat house for the Diocese.

Witney Gazette:

The two-storey care home proposals include ensuite bedrooms, treatment rooms, dining and living areas, as well as a cafe, outside terrace and garden.

It will be registered with the Care Quality Commission and will look after older people suffering from conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, creating about 60 jobs.

Witney Gazette:

Curbridge Road was closed in both directions for some time as emergency services attended the blaze.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Rob Platt said officers believed the fire had been started deliberately after offenders got into the building.

He added: “I would urge anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in the area on Monday or yesterday to please contact police as soon as possible.”

If anyone has any information regarding the incident, contact the force by calling 101 or visit your nearest police station and quote the reference number 83 [25/4].

The Oxford Mail contacted the applicants of the care home, Care UK Community Partnerships, but they did not respond.

Witney Gazette:

Mike Aspinall of DMK I.T. Services, who had permission to fly a drone overhead at the time, took photographs of the devastation.

The drone experienced electrical interference and landed in the playground of a local primary school, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Curbridge Road.

It was picked up by youngsters and Mr Aspinall has extended his thanks to the school for returning it.