Police were last night investigating a blaze which destroyed a plumber’s workshop and damaged a social club in rural Aberdeenshire.
Firefighters were called to Maud at 1.30am on Saturday to deal with the huge blaze which erupted inside a building in Market Street.
The converted garage, which is used as local plumber Eddie Bruce’s store, neighbours the village’s social club which plays host to a variety of charity events and discos in the area.
Six appliances attended the incident, but the fire destroyed the property.
Flames from the garage also left the social club damaged with roof tiles visibly scarred from the heat.
Last night, no one from Maud Social Club was available to comment on the fire.
But Mr Bruce confirmed the conflagrati the blaze could set back his business by a few months.
“It’s only materials, the main thing is that no one has been hurt,” he added.
“But it’s all been lost. I only spoke to the police on Saturday and I’m waiting to hear back from the insurance company. It could be Tuesday before I speak to someone about it due to holidays.
“It could be hard to find out what has happened with the amount of water the fire brigade had to use to put it out.”
A spokesman for the fire service said it took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.
Police have since moved in to probe its cause amid concerns that the fire may have been started deliberately.
A spokesman for the police said: “Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are carrying out a joint investigation into a fire which occurred at approximately 01.30am in the morning of Saturday, May 27 at a derelict shed located next to the Maud Social Club.
“Extensive damage was caused to the shed. Inquiries are ongoing to establish whether or not the fire was suspicious.”
Anyone with information on the blaze has been asked to contact police on the non-emergency 101 telephone number.
Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously by calling the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.