A FIRE in a disused warehouse may have been started deliberately. The blaze caused fire and smoke damage to the former Jewson builders' merchants in the Thornhill area of Southampton. The Daily Echo understands a group of youngsters were in the seven-storey building at the time the fire broke out.

More than 75 firefighters fought the blaze which was started at around 4.15pm yesterday.

Thick smoke was seen rising from the back of the building and flames were spotted coming from the roof of the warehouse, which is surrounded by blocks of flats in the Thornhill estate. Fire crews cut into the roof of the building to put out the fire which was contained in cladding inside walls of the building.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Steve Hann said: "We are treating the fire as suspicious."

Sgt Rob Munro, from Bitterne police station said: "Three young people have been arrested."

The nine acre site in Bursledon Road is currently earmarked for a £25m revamp that could see shops, a bingo hall, a health care centre and food outlets transform the site within the next two years, creating 400 jobs.