Arsonists target gym for third time; Firebugs cause pounds 40k damage.Byline: HYWEL TREWYN Pictures: STACEY ROBERTS POLICE are hunting arsonists who set fire to a popular gym for the third time in as many months causing pounds 40,000 worth of damage. They smashed a hole in the roof of Abergele Fitness in the town's Water Street, poured petrol in and set it ablaze. The gym only opened in January but has been targeted by arsonists on two previous occasions. Yesterday owner Ed Brookes Edward A. Brookes (born Dublin, Ireland), also known as Ed Brookes or Ned Brookes, was an Irish footballer who played as centre-forward or inside-left for, among others, Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town. was trying to clear up the mess while detectives joined police forensic officers and fire investigators sifting through the embers em·ber n. 1. A small, glowing piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire. 2. embers The smoldering coal or ash of a dying fire. for evidence. He estimated the cost of the damaged roof, reception and smoke-logged gym walls to be pounds 20,000, with another pounds 20,000 on top to replace the damaged equipment. Ed, 35, said he was called to the gym at around 2am. He said the arsonists had smashed up the roof tiles before pouring petrol in and setting light to it. He said: "They've smashed through the roof and burnt my gym. It's the third time it's happened. It's a nightmare. "Police have got CCTV CCTV abbr. closed-circuit television CCTV closed-circuit television evidence and are looking into it now. From the CCTV they can see petrol being poured and lit." In May the arsonists came armed with tyres and petrol and tried to set fire to the gym's roof but the fire service was alerted and managed to put it out. A fortnight fort·night n. A period of 14 days; two weeks. [Middle English fourtenight, alteration of fourtene night, fourteen nights : Old English f later the arsonists returned but were seen by neighbours and fled. Ed said: "Last night they came back. This time they've destroyed the gym. They've tried to burn it down. It's going to be closed for a long time. "It's a new business which only opened in January. We're doing really well. Me and my partner put all our money into it, including money from my gran after she died. "Our members are all behind us and we're not going to stop." The gym has 200 members and many have offered to help repaint Re`paint´ v. t. 1. To paint anew or again; as, to repaint a house; to repaint the ground of a picture. s> Verb 1. the inside. Ed said: "The roof is all burnt, the walls and suspended ceiling has gone molten, the floor has got smoke damage, and all the equipment. A lot of it is no good." Fire investigator Michael O'Meara said: "There's no question it's deliberate. Somebody has taken a dislike to the gym. It's quite a determined effort to cause damage." Mr O'Meara said it was lucky nobody was injured as the blaze could have spread to nearby houses. Quick-thinking neighbours called the fire service after the building's smoke alarm went off. A North Wales Police North Wales Police (Welsh: Heddlu Gogledd Cymru) is the Home Office police force responsible for policing North Wales. The headquarters are in Colwyn Bay, with divisional headquarters in St Asaph, Caernarfon and Wrexham. spokeswoman said they were treating the fire as suspicious. She appealed to anybody with any information to contact them on 0845 607 1001/2 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. hyweltrewyn@dailypost.co.uk CAPTION(S): Abergele Fitness, target of three arson attacks in three months Owner of Abergele Fitness Ed Brookes, left, with his manager Haydn Jones inspect the damage after the arson attack on Saturday Pictures: STACEY |
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