The cause of the disastrous fire which wrecked Colchester's Cowdray Centre might never be known.
A major investigation has been launched after the home to 60 small businesses was ruined in one of the town's biggest-ever blazes.
Fire chiefs warned today the fragile condition of the gutted building might make it impossible to find the spot where the flames first broke out.
A spokesman told the Evening Gazette: "The investigation is already under way, but we expect it will take weeks to reach a conclusion. It might be that we will never be able to get in and see where the fire started."
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