Probe into derelict factory blaze 'inconclusive'

"Essential" demolition of the factory began on Tuesday

An investigation after a large fire at a derelict shoe factory has proved inconclusive, it has emerged.

More than a dozen fire crews battled the blaze at the former Van-Dal shoe factory in Dibden Road, Norwich, on Monday evening.

"Essential" demolition of the building, which contained asbestos, began on Tuesday and Norfolk Police is treating the fire as arson.

Norwich City Council said precautionary air testing had continued to show no issues or concerns but residents on Dibden Road had been asked to keep their windows closed.

Nearby George White Junior School remained closed for a second day as a "precautionary measure", Norfolk County Council said.

A Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said a fire investigation was carried out on Tuesday.

"Due to the severity of the fire, the scale of the damage and instability of the building, we were unable to determine the cause of the fire," they added.

At its height, more than a dozen fire crews battled the blaze

The fire service said it left the site at 14:30 GMT on Tuesday

The city council said initial air quality tests showed "no significant levels of asbestos present in the air" and it reassured residents the health risk was low.

It added further tests would take place on Wednesday.

"Specialist asbestos operatives provided by the demolition company are on site," a council spokesperson said.

"Essential demolition took place on [Tuesday] night and is ongoing this morning."

Additional street cleaning is due to take place over the coming days.

On X, the city council said the site owner had arranged for Anglian Demolition to knock on doors in Crome Road, Dibden Road, Romany Road, Gertrude Road and Silver Road to check gardens for fire-related debris.

The city council is urging the public to "avoid the site entirely"

Norfolk Fire and Rescue said it believed up to 75% of the building had been damaged.

The closure of the facility, Norwich's last remaining shoe factory, was announced in 2018.

Firefighters attended a blaze at the same location last April.