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Third teenager released on bail after major fire

Kirsty Connor Retail park with smoke billowing from a Dunelm store, flowing over the roofs of neighbouring shops. There is a fire engine by the store entrance and cars parked in the car park. People are standing around watching the fire.Kirsty Connor
The fire broke out on Saturday and smoke was seen for miles around

A boy arrested after a major fire at a retail park has been released on bail, police said.

The 14-year-old was detained on Monday by officers investigating Saturday's blaze at Nene Valley Retail Park in Northampton.

Two other boys arrested on Saturday on suspicion of arson have also been released on bail, while a 13-year-old who was detained on Saturday will face no further action.

Meanwhile, a pet owner whose animal was being treated at a veterinary surgery on the retail park has praised staff for the way they dealt with the fire.

Vets for Pets - based in the Pets at Home building next to Dunelm, where the fire started - confirmed on social media that its staff and patients were evacuated safely.

It added: "We are in the process of trying to secure a suitable alternative location to run the practice from until we can reopen in our usual location."

Patients with appointments are being contacted by staff.

Isabella Bowers Large black and brown dog with two women and a man around him. One woman has long brown hair and is wearing green scrubs. The other woman has long blonde hair and is wearing a black top. A man with a black and grey beard is to the left, wearing a blue sweater and jeans. There is a blanket on the ground. All the people are kneeling on the ground and one woman has her arms around the dog.Isabella Bowers
Bear was cared for in the car park by staff from the surgery

The owner of a dog called Bear - in the surgery when the fire broke out - praised staff for the way they handled the emergency.

Bear was being treated for pancreatitis and all his records have been destroyed in the fire, but he was rescued.

His owner, Isabella Bowers, said: "The care he received was outstanding.

"My parents saw the post on Facebook so they headed down straight away, but on the way down they received a phone call saying that Bear is safe and not to worry and that he was being well looked after in the carpark.

"They also made arrangements for Bear to go to another vets."

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Retail park units including Dunelm, with its green banner over the door, and Pets and Home. There is a jet spraying water onto the roofs of Pets and Home and Dunelm, from which smoke can be seen rising into the air. There are three firefighters in the foreground - one is wearing breathing apparatus.Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue
The Dunelm store and the Pets at Home branch to the left of it suffered serious damage during the fire

Northamptonshire Police said on Saturday that the Pets at Home store manager had "made swift arrangements to move the animals to safety" during the fire.

A spokesperson for Pets at Home said: "We'd like to thank the emergency services and our colleagues at Nene Valley Retail Park who responded to fire spreading rapidly from the neighbouring Dunelm store, and took swift action to move customers and pets to safety.

"We are supporting our team through this difficult time and thank customers and clients for their support and understanding. We will also continue to help the Police with their ongoing investigation."

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