POLICE believe arsonists could be to blame for a potentially catastrophic fire only yards from underground fuel tanks at a Hampshire motorway service station.
Firefighters fought the blaze at Winchester Services on the M3 for some 30 minutes before bringing the flames under control.
Detectives called in a specialist Home Office scientist to analyse the damaged building on the northbound service area at Shroner Wood which only opened in March 2001.
Det Sgt Kevin Perriment, of Winchester CID, said: "This was a very severe fire that we are investigating. The Home Office scientists attended the scene to examine it but the cause is still unknown."
The fire started at about 4.40am on Easter Sunday and was put out by 6.15am. Witnesses are being sought.
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