A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a blaze which destroyed a store in Keighley town centre.

The fire at Poundstretcher in Cavendish Retail Park is believed to have been caused by a rubbish bin being set alight near the building.

The teenager, who lives in the town, has been questioned by detectives and released on police bail pending further investigations, said a police spokesman.

The blaze on Tuesday night attracted crowds of onlookers as firefighters battled for about two hours to bring it under control.

The building was so badly damaged that it will have to be demolished and rebuilt, said Martin Collinson, Poundstretcher company secretary, who visited the scene yesterday.

“The fire service tell me it will have to come down because it is structurally unsafe,” he said.

Mr Collinson said he understood at the outbreak of the fire two members of staff were still inside closing down the store and they escaped unhurt.

“When I arrived I expected the building to look much worse but the damage is internal – the metal is twisted and the structure is badly damaged,” he added.

Mr Collinson said the company would be looking to deploy the 15 staff in other Poundstretcher stores in the area.

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