A FIRE that gutted the One Stop shop in Pinehurst was not started maliciously, police said.

Wiltshire Police said a woman had been interviewed under caution and detectives investigating the fire have passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any charges.

More than 40 firefighters from across the county battled the shop blaze on Thursday, July 12. The fire was believed to have started at the back of the store at around 7.30pm. A huge firefighting effort saw the operational support unit and aerial appliance called to the Pinehurst Circle.

Sally Franklin, 52, from North Swindon, who was in Pinehurst Fisheries chip shop as the fire caught, said at the time: “It took about five minutes for the fire to spread. When the roof collapsed the fire spread extremely fast. That was quite shocking.”

Naomi Peachey, 22, of Pinehurst, added: “It’s insane. A fire like that is not something I’ve ever experienced before. Within five minutes the shop roof caved in.”

The day after the fire detectives confirmed they were treating it as arson and appealed for any information that could help their investigation.

Today, a spokeswoman for Wiltshire Police has thanked witnesses who came forward: “Our investigation is now complete and we are not looking for anyone else.”

She stressed the fire was not believed to have been started maliciously.