A FIRE commander has said he is 'very proud' of his team who averted an even greater disaster at a DIY shop.

Marcus Reay said his firefighters worked 'tirelessly' to fight the blaze in Watlington High Street on Friday night.

Several villagers called 999 just before 7pm when the DG Homecare shop went up in flames.

Amanda Hinton, who runs K is for Kitchen on Watlington High Street, said she and other shopkeepers had been stunned by the inferno.

She and other shop owners revealed Mr and Mrs Starling had run the hardware shop which they lived next door to for 30 years.

She added: “Everyone is very sorry it’s gone – it was very useful.”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, has now said it believes the likely cause was ‘accidental/ electrical’.

Video - Tom Dixon

Some 50 firefighters in eight engines from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire attended the scene.

On arrival they were faced with a rapidly-developing fire on the ground and first floor.

Donning breathing apparatus, the team quickly got jets to work to stop the blaze spreading to adjoining properties.

Mr Reay said today: "I was very proud of my firefighters who worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control, in hot conditions using breathing apparatus, ladders and hose lines, in getting water onto the fire to stop it spreading.

"They worked tremendously together as a team and everybody put in a great deal of effort. "Fortunately there were no casualties."

 

Oxford Mail: