Shoppers' shock at store fire

Shoppers told of their shock at being ordered out of a Black Country supermarket as it became full of smoke after a fire broke out in a derelict DIY store next door.

Customers had to abandon trolleys and workers left their tills at Tesco in Willenhall after bosses took the decision to close the branch.

Smoke had poured into the store on the Keyway Retail Park in Armstrong Way from Glyn Webb, The Home of Bargains warehouse, which fire crews believe was set alight deliberately. Shopper Marcus Burrows, aged 32, a researcher, from Willenhall, had just pulled on to the Tesco car park to do some shopping when he saw the smoke.

He said: "The car park was covered in smoke and so was Tesco. Staff and shoppers had been evacuated from the building and were standing in the car park.

Divisional Officer Mick Birch, of West Midlands Fire Service, said: "The fire crews did see evidence of a forced entrance to the building when they entered themselves so we are treating the fire as suspicious."