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Blaze guts former restaurant

A once-thriving Staffordshire restaurant has been destroyed in what is believed to be an arson attack.

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A once-thriving Staffordshire restaurant has been destroyed in what is believed to be an arson attack.

The Water Margin Chinese Cuisine Restaurant in Norton Canes was set alight early this morning and the ferocity of the blaze meant that 40 firefighters had to tackle it.

The Watling Street restaurant, which has been closed for around 12 months, was completely gutted, with the roof reduced to the main beams and a few tiles.

Carl Mason, aged 46, a station manager at Rising Brook, said: "We are treating it as suspicious and our early indications are that was deliberate." Mr Mason said it appeared that the front and rear doors had been forced.

During the blaze drama, crews from Burton-on-Trent, Cannock, Penkridge, Brewood, Rising Brook, Tamworth, and Stafford were all in attendance at the restaurant which positioned on the edge of the A5.

This morning's fire comes just two days ater arsonists targeted the Rising Sun pub, in Brownhills, which is around three miles away on the A5.

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