Ponsanooth church fire was deliberate

9:37am Monday 2nd June 2008

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A devastating blaze that burnt Ponsanooth Methodist Church to the ground was started deliberately.

More than half a million pounds worth of damage is believed to have been caused as a result of the fire, which left the church gutted.

The 25 metre by ten metre building in St Michael's Road was in the process of being renovated.

It caught alight just after 5.30am yesterday.

Eyewitnesses have described the blaze as "an inferno."

Windows of surrounding properties have been smashed as a result of the heat.

Fire crews from Redruth and Falmouth raced to the scene, but were unable to stop the church from being gutted by flames.

As crews tackled the blaze it became clear more support was needed.

Four further appliances were called to help, in addition to the command support unit and an aerial ladder platform from Truro.

An operational support unit from St Austell also attended, along with the water carrier from Newquay.

By 8.30am the situation was under control.

One appliance is remaining at the scene during the course of today.

The cause of the fire has been described by the fire brigade as "doubtful" and a fire investigation team is on site with police.

• Two men from the area, aged 19 and 17 years, were arrested and later released on police bail to return to Camborne police station on September 1.