FIRE crews were called to a Basingstoke industrial estate yesterday afternoon after flames engulfed a cash and carry warehouse.

Police say they are treating the blaze as suspicious.

An automatic fire alarm at Booker's Cash and Carry in Bell Road, on the Daneshill Industrial Estate, alerted firefighters to the blaze at around 3.30pm.

Four appliances - three from Basingstoke and one from Tadley - attended the blaze, as well as a special equipment unit and an aerial ladder platform.

Sub-officer Chris Roper, of Basingstoke fire station, said: "As we were approaching we could see the place was well alight.

"A corner of the building was engulfed in flames.

"We think it started outside, spread through the shutter door and set fire to some stock. The rest of the warehouse was smoke-logged."

The fire was quickly brought under control but firefighters were concerned about how far it had spread through the roof area of the building.

The aerial ladder platform was used to enable them to cut a section off the roof and investigate.

Three hours earlier, firefighters were called to a skip fire on the same site, just outside Booker's.

Detective Constable Darren Barrett, of Basingstoke police, said: "There could be an innocent explanation but, at this point in time, we are certainly treating the incident as suspicious."

He added that the police are appealing for any witnesses to the fire to contact them on 0845 045 45 45.