Arson investigation under way after shops blaze

Chloe Aslett
BBC News, Yorkshire
Simon Thake/BBC Front view of the shows, all with shutters down and the roof damaged. In places it has almost entirely fallen through.Simon Thake/BBC
Access to the footpath in front of the shops was closed off on Monday morning

A fire which left three shops badly damaged is being treated as arson, police have confirmed.

At its height, five fire crews tackled the blaze at Manor Park Centre in Sheffield, which broke out early on Monday morning and which took about three hours to be extinguished.

N&D Salon, Flowers and Gift 2 Go and Krown Tanning & Beauty all suffered serious damage, with the roof destroyed and bricks and tiles left littering the pavement.

South Yorkshire Police said it was believed the fire had been started intentionally.

Simon Thake/BBC Tiles and bricks from the affected buildings litter the pavement at Manor Park Centre, off Harborough Road. Part of a mural is visible on the left hand side. The shops all have blue shutters down. A fence is up with police tape across it.Simon Thake/BBC
A mural painted at one end of the properties was also damaged in the fire

A force spokesperson said: "Officers have launched an arson investigation. Inquiries are ongoing to identify suspects."

At about 01:00 BST on Monday, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had asked people to avoid the area and close their windows and doors due to the blaze.

A colourful piece of street art, reading "Manor Park Proud", also appeared to have been damaged in the fire.

The area around the mural and a footpath at the site remained closed off on Monday morning.

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