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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
JJ Donoghue

Dramatic photos show destruction after 'arsonists' target Clevedon's 'Men's Shed'

'Arsonists' burnt down a beloved community 'Men's Shed'. Pictures uploaded to Twitter by Clevedon Fire Station show charred remains after flames ripped through the building in the North Somerset area.

Firefighters were called to Princes Hall at just after midnight yesterday (April 20). The fire involved decking and a wood store used as a BBQ area.

The pictures show at least four firefighters from Avon Fire and Rescue Service working to put out the flames. A caption added to the pictures on Twitter says: "Both pumps mobilised to Princes Hall in Clevedon to a fire involving decking & wood store used as a BBQ area.

Read more: Bristol man attacked by mob outside his home including 'fireman'

A spokesperson for Clevedon Community centre and The Princes Hall wrote on Facebook: "We were really saddened to see this, please visit the GoFundme page for Men's Shed if you would like to make a donation."

The Gofundme page reads: "Vandals burnt down our charity’s outside decking and seating area where our members meet for coffee breaks from our work making wooden items to sell and working on community outreach projects.

"It took us three years of hard work by mostly elderly retired men to turn a patch of land from a tip into a perfect area for meeting and socialising to overcome loneliness and social isolation.

"We are asking for donations to help us clear the damage and rebuild our decking, seating overhead pergola, an outside work station and a timber store. We will do the work ourselves."

Despite the club believing the blaze was started deliberately, the fire service has put out a statement saying: "The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental".

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