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Police suspect arson at former soft play centre

Andy Trigg
BBC News, Hertfordshire
Harpenden Fire Station Five firefighters, one wearing breathing apparatus, stood by a fire engine. They are wearing being safety equipment with fluorescent strips Harpenden Fire Station
The fire service said 10 firefighters in breathing apparatus helped to battle the blaze

Police are treating a large blaze at a former children's soft play centre as arson.

Emergency services were called to Southdown Industrial Estate in Harpenden, near St Albans, at about 21:30 BST on Monday.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had a number of fire engines on scene, and urged people living nearby to keep their windows closed.

Hertfordshire Police said it "suspected arson", and an investigation was now under way.

Harpenden Fire Station Inside the former soft play centre. Some of the play equipment frames are fire damaged. Others remain in tact.Harpenden Fire Station
Much of the former soft play equipment appears damaged by the fire

The fire service confirmed six fire engines and a command support unit, from nearby fire stations, were sent to the scene.

It said crews worked to put the flames out and it was extinguished by 01:00.

Harpenden Fire Station A paramedic with an ambulance bed stood alongside five firefighters by the front of a fire engine. Three of the firefighters are knelt on the ground. The paramedic looks on.Harpenden Fire Station
The fire service urged people to avoid the area

The East of England Ambulance Service, which sent five vehicles to the scene, confirmed there were no casualties.

The Big Space soft play centre closed in 2019 and the building was "abandoned", police added.

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