Dunelm Mill fire: Crews called to Coventry retail park

[dutchman]

A large fire has broken out at a retail park in Coventry causing "extensive damage" to a homeware store.



About 15 fire engines were sent to the Dunelm Mill store on the Orchard Retail Park, off London Road, in the Willenhall area.

Police and the fire service were alerted at just before 05:00 BST when the store's alarms went off.

A police spokesman said the fire may have been started deliberately. Roads nearby have been closed due to smoke.

Prevent it spreading

He said: "The outlet has suffered extensive fire damage and flames are understood to have spread to the adjacent Dreams bed store.

"Firefighters are working to try to prevent it spreading to neighbouring units."

London Road at St James Lane has been closed while Toll Bar island is also affected.

He added the A45 remains open but could be closed later if smoke drifts across the carriageway and makes driving conditions hazardous.

The nearby Royal Mail sorting office has been closed as a precaution resulting in disruption to postal services in the area.

Baginton Fields Secondary School has also been closed because of the nearby road closures. Coventry City Council said it was expected to reopen on Friday.

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

A large fire that broke out at Coventry’s London Road retail park this morning may have been started deliberately.

Fire and police were alerted to the blaze when alarms at the Dunelm furniture store were activated just before 5am. The outlet has suffered extensive fire damage and flames are understood to have spread to the adjacent Dreams bed store – fire fighters are working to try to prevent it spreading to neighbouring units.

London Road at St James Lane has been closed whilst Toll Bar island is also affected. The A45 remains open but could later be closed should smoke drift across the carriageway and make driving conditions hazardous.

The Royal Mail tell is that Coventry South Delivery office was evacuated at 07.00 on the advice of the fire service. This will prevent deliveries to customers in the CV1, CV3, CV5 and parts of CV8 postcode area. Contingency arrangements to maintain collections in the area are currently being put in place.

Baginton Fields Secondary School is closed due to road closures in place around Sedgemoor Road.