10:09am Friday 10th July 2009
By Giles Sheldrick
Fire and police investigators have this morning started their fingertip search inside the torched Fox & Hounds pub on the corner of Abingdon Road and Weirs Lane in Oxford.
Fifty five firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze at the derelict venue last night after Oxfordshire fire and rescue received calls from worried members of the public around 7pm after the pub was seen alight.
It was initially thought squatters were living inside the building.
However, no one was found.
This morning it became apparent the roof and first floor of the building had been left totally destroyed.
Ten firefighters forced their way into the pub, which has been purchased by Tesco and was soon to open soon as a Metro store.
Incident commander, firefighter Pete Cleary, said: "This was a fortunate incident in that there was nobody inside the building.
"Fire crews acted swiftly to extinguish the fire and search the building very quickly.
"Thankfully, there was nobody inside.
"This was a good result - but it could have been a lot worse." Police have closed the junction of Abingdon Road and Weirs Lane and diversions are currently in place.
A man in his late 50s, arrested on suspicion of arson, is this morning still being held in police custody.
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