Arsonists are believed to have started a fire which ripped through a farm building and carpentry workshop.

Investigators were on Friday looking through the charred wreckage of the single-storey barn containing Fiveways Farm Shop and Simon's Carpenters.

But firefighters battling the inferno at about 12.30am prevented it spreading to explosive gas canisters and an adjacent chemical store.

Julian Mead, owner of the Colchester farm, off Peartree Road, Stanway, said: "We will be rebuilding."

Station officer Dave Bridgeman said: "An extremely severe fire rapidly engulfed the whole of the building. It is being treated as doubtful. The fire was probably started on the outside."

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