Woman and baby treated as charity bags set on fire

Bags of donations left outside the Summerhall Place shop were set alight, but there was little damage inside

A woman and a 20-week-old baby living in the flat above the Bethany Christian Trust in the Meadows were treated for smoke inhalation and shock after smoke filled their property.

Firefighters were called to Summerhall Place at 10pm on Saturday night.

The shop's manager, Lilias Currie, said CCTV images revealed two women were responsible for setting the donation bags alight. The fire spread to a refuse bin and then to the charity shop building itself.

Police confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious and appealed for witnesses.

Mrs Currie rushed out to the shop on Saturday night and she and volunteers spent yesterday trying to clean the shop up so it could open today.

Mrs Currie told the Evening News: "A few bags of donations, which had been left, were set alight, which melted a bin and caught fire to the shop.

"We live in Port Seton and by the time we got here, the fire brigade and police were here and the fire was out.

"We have CCTV, which points straight out of the window to the area. It's not a clear picture but the police were able to substantiate that it definitely was arson and that two women had been involved.

"We always ask people not to leave donations outside, but I hadn't ever thought of people setting fire to them.

"People are trying to help by leaving stuff outside but it really doesn't help because the charity never gets it. People usually steal it first."

Mrs Currie said the shop had not suffered extensive damage inside, as it was first feared.

She said: "It's not as bad a state as we thought it might be in."The stock is fine and we're just going to have to replace a window and shutter doors and outside paintwork.

"There's not really been a lot of damage done, fortunately."

Detectives are now urging anyone with information about the fire to come forward.

A police spokesman said: "Enquiries carried out by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service indicated this fire had been started deliberately and we are now investigating to find those responsible.

"Anyone who saw any suspicious activity in or around the area around 10pm on Saturday night is asked to contact police.

"Similarly, anyone with any other information that can assist with our enquiries is also asked to get in touch."

The fire was tackled by 16 firefighters, with three tenders and a turntable ladder, and the blaze was brought under control shortly before midnight.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "The first-floor flat was smoke-logged and a female and 20-week-old baby were suffering from smoke inhalation and shock.

"They didn't require to go to hospital and were treated at the scene by paramedics."