Stable blaze ‘was deliberate’ as owners appeal for information
STRUCTURE BUILT BY GRANDAD 25 YEARS AGO GOES UP IN FLAMES
A family’s stables were destroyed in a blaze that they believe was started deliberately.
Firefighters were called at 8.20pm on Sunday when smoke was seen rising from a field in Enderby.
Hollie Soden, whose grandmother owns the field, in Mill Lane, said she was called by a neighbour of the stables who warned her to get there as soon as possible.
Fire crews were already at the scene when she arrived, to find there was “nothing left” of what had been a cherished family space.
The 30-year-old’s late grandfather, Tony Wright, built the stables for her and her sister Dannii 25 years ago.
But Hollie was forced to move her two horses, Tango and Monty, away from the site after, she said, it was first targeted a couple of years ago.
She said: “The stables had massive sentimental value.
“My grandad bought me my first pony when I was two. He bought two horses, for me and my sister, and we
actually both went on to work in the equestrian industry.”
Hollie said she was told by crews at the scene that the blaze appeared to have been started deliberately, and she is to report it to the police.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service could not confirm a cause when asked.
“This happened before and we
decided not to pursue it further because the people involved were only young. But this is getting silly now,” said Hollie.
“We had to move our horses away because we couldn’t monitor it.
“We never had these issues years ago. It’s only recently that we’ve had them, and it’s got to the point where we don’t really know what we can
do. There’s nothing left there now. It’s completely gone.”
Hollie said she had hoped to move her horses back into the field and stables, but that was now not an option.
She said she and her family now had to clear up the charred wreckage left behind.
She said: “My family want the
police to press charges, but what I’d really like is for the people to come back and help clear up the mess.”
Hollie and her family are now hoping anyone with information will come forward to help them.
Police can be called on 101 or Crimestoppers – which is free and anonymous – can be reached on 0800 555111.