Mail vans hit in Shropshire arson blast

A loud bang was heard after fire-starters pushed a wheelie bin up against a post van and set it alight in Station Road, Albrighton.

One van erupted into a ball of flames which quickly moved to the second Fiat van before spreading to the disused police station.

The glass pane was blown out, the UPVC frames melted and the ground floor of the office filled with smoke.

On hearing the explosion, residents raised the alarm and firefighters battled for an hour to get the flames under control.

The blaze left one post van with 60 per cent damage including broken windows and burst tyres and the other with 10 per cent damage.

Two fire engines from Albrighton went to the scene and crews battled for an hour using breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

Carol Sokolov, line manager at the post office, said: "There was an explosion, a big bang and they looked out and saw the fire brigade there. When I got here one of the Royal Mail vans was destroyed and there was a wheelie bin in front of it.

"There was quite an inferno. All the windows were blown out on one of the vans and the tyres had burst.

"The police station, which isn't manned any more, had its window blown out and it's burnt all up the wall.

"The police and fire brigade were quick to get here and get it under control. They've said it's deliberate and I just think it's childish and pathetic.I don't think it's the only one in the village either. When I was on my rounds in Elm Road about three weeks ago I notice a car had been burnt out.

"The whole engine and front of the car had gone up." Mrs Sokolov said staff at the post office were pushing on to get mail out despite the fire.

"We are still in business," she said. "We've had two replacement vans delivered so we are carrying on working.

"We've had Royal Mail head office down to investigate and get everything cleared up and sorted out. And we've had forensics taking photos." Constable Nick Allbutt, of West Mercia Police, said:

"Someone had pushed a wheelie bin up against the two Fiat Royal Mail vans and then set the wheelie bin alight.

"The flames have then spread to both vans and the old police office window.

"It's a 5ft by 3ft window and there's damage to the glass, the UPVC frame and guttering on the wall of the building."

Derek Taylor, fire crime officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "At 10.25pm on Wednesday we were called to a large wheelie bin fire at the rear of the post office in Station Road, Albrighton.

"The fire caused damage to two post office vehicles and caused damage to the old police station window. The fire was started deliberately."

Anyone with any information on the fire is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.