First pictures and video of damage inside Co-op, Upchurch after devastating fire

By: Ed McConnell emcconnell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:23, 30 April 2019

Updated: 15:24, 30 April 2019

These pictures show the full scale of the damage caused to a village shop following a blaze which broke out last night.

Flames ripped through the Co-op, in The Street, Upchurch, after a manager spotted smoke coming from the kitchen as he was locking up at 10pm.

At its height four fire crews were battling the blaze.

Firefighters tackle the blazing Co-op building in Upchurch. Picture: Alan Snellings (9374994)

Firefighters enter the Co-op building in Upchurch. Picture: Alan Snellings (9374996)

Firefighters outside the Co-op building in Upchurch. Picture: Nick Thompson-Moore (9375000)

A fire engine outside the outside the Co-op building in Upchurch. Picture: Nick Thompson-Moore (9375002)

The Co-op in Upchurch has been gutted by fire (9391491)

The entrance to the shop (9391493)

The blaze bropke out just after 10pm (9391495)

The entrance to the shop (9391497)

The Co-op store in The Street, Upchurch, this morning. (9385122)

The Co-op store in The Street, Upchurch, this morning. (9385124)

The Co-op store in The Street, Upchurch, this morning (9386560)

The Co-op store in The Street, Upchurch, this morning (9386566)

The Co-op store in The Street, Upchurch, this morning (9386569)

The fire was most likely triggered by an electrical fault, potentially with a charging e-cigarette.

Fire investigators are today combing the scene to establish exactly what happened and then a lengthy clean up operation will start.

Many villagers and residents of surrounding areas rely on the Co-op.

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