Lincolnshire pub fire 'deliberate'

A Lincolnshire pub in the process of being sold has been gutted by fire less than a day before the contract was due to be signed.

Tony Hughes, who was due to move into the Green Dragon, at West Ashby, last week, told the MA he thought the blaze was not an accident and was started to prevent him taking on the pub.

Lincolnshire police also believe the pub was "deliberately ignited" in the early hours of Monday 21 April and are appealing for witnesses. The lounge and dining room were described as a "blackened ruin" and the rest of the site suffered smoke damage.

The pub has been unoccupied since November and was placed on the market by pub agent Britannia Business Sales (BBS) on behalf of Sowena Commercial, a Cornwall-based property investment firm.

Tony Hughes said: "I saw the blaze on my way to work, as I was travelling from Grimsby to Digby. I'd just stopped by to make sure everything was OK.

"I've got a wife and six kids, who were all due to move into the pub with me. It's a disaster. This was going to be a thriving, working family business and a place to bring the children up."

Alan Crowest, of BBS, said the deal was still due to go through and a favourable insurance assessment had been made. The incident highlights the vulnerability of empty pubs to arson attacks and other forms of criminal damage.