Fire blow for raided shop

A BLAZE that wrecked a shop in Granton just days after it was ransacked by a gang of thieves was started deliberately, police said today.

The fire broke out at Sandy's convenience store in Granton Mains Avenue, just after 4am on Wednesday.

Fire chiefs said the blaze had started in the shop's roof and the service's investigators later ruled that it was "suspicious".

On Sunday night, the shop was raided by thieves who set off the burglar alarm before leaving a trail of coins for police to follow as they made their getaway.

Two female employees were left terrified when the gang of up to six men forced their way in to the store as they locked up for the night.

A police spokesman appealed to anyone with information on the incident to come forward.