A blaze which caused about £400,000 of damage to coaches on an industrial estate remains a mystery.

Investigators have been examining the wreckage of the vehicles, which were gutted by flames on New Year's Eve in Grange Farm Road on the Whitehall Industrial Estate, Colchester.

The severity of the damage has meant fire brigade and police officers have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the suspicious fire.

The four coaches and two minibuses were all owned by Supreme Coaches which set up its £1 million Colchester base just last February.

John Bridge, managing director of the company, which has its headquarters in Southend, said: "I'm shocked by the devastation."

Published Friday, January 3, 2003

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