Wedding dress shop is torched in arson attack
Police and fire investigators are called in after early morning blaze
Police are investigating an arson attack at a wedding shop that caused ‘considerable’ damage to designer dresses.
The fire happened at Village Brides, in Marple Bridge, in the early hours of Friday morning and also forced a family to flee from the flat above.
Firefighters from Marple, Offerton and King Street stations were called at around 2.30am to the blaze, which was deliberately started.
It damaged wedding dresses in the shop largely through smoke - and a mum, dad and three children living in the flat above dialled 999 and fled from their home.
All were uninjured but the woman was checked by paramedics.
POLICE are investigating an arson attack at a wedding shop in Stockport that caused ‘considerable’ damage to designer dresses.
The fire happened at Village Brides, in Marple Bridge, in the early hours on Friday morning and also forced a family to escape from the flat above.
Firefighters from Marple, Offerton and King Street stations were called at around 2.30am to the blaze, which was deliberately started.
It damaged wedding dresses in the shop largely through smoke and a mum, dad and three children living in the flat above dialled 999 and fled from their home.
All were uninjured but the woman was checked by paramedics.
Investigators from police and fire services are now making enquiries to establish who is responsible for the blaze.
Saul Brown, from Offerton fire station, said: “It was a relatively small fire but the smoke damage was considerable.
“There was smoke damage to the flat above the shop and the family evacuated.”
A police spokesman confirmed that officers had attended a fire at a shop on Town Street, which was being treated as arson, and that enquiries were ongoing.
The shop is owned by Julie Mitchelmore, who opened it 14 years ago.
She has been in the wedding dress business since 1988 having got a taste for making clothes when she was bought a sewing machine for her eleventh birthday.
The shop has become a popular place for prospective brides and customers and friends were shocked to learn of what happened.
Karen Devilly posted on Facebook: “This is awful. Hope you and the family are all ok Julie.
“Thinking of you and hope they find the evil people who have done this.”
Bobbie Stanhope added: “Julie made my daughter’s dress and she was the nicest person. Hope she is back in business soon.”
And Lesley Carson said: “What a rotten shame Julie, some awful people in the world, brainless act of destruction.
“I hope you and the people upstairs are ok.”
Village Brides had been due to hold a one day January sale on Sunday.
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.