HOMEBASE said yesterday that it is too early to say when its fire-damaged store in Liskeard will reopen.

The DIY chain confirmed that the major fire at the store in the early hours of Saturday was started by accident.

A Homebase spokeswoman also told the Cornish Times: 'The well-being of our store colleagues is a high priority for us at this moment in time.

'Around 30 members of staff are employed at Homebase Liskeard. Currently, these members of staff are working temporarily at other Homebase and Argos stores in the local area.

'We are still assessing the damage to the store and have nothing further to update on at this stage.'

More than 80 firefighters fought the blaze on the Bubble retail park.

Fire crews from Liskeard, Callington, Looe, Lostwithiel, Saltash, Bodmin, Wadebridge and St Austell fought the blaze throughout the early hours after being called just after midnight.

Specialist appliances were also used from Launceston and St Austell, as well as a hydraulic platform from Devon.

Firefighters from Liskeard were first on the scene and immediately called for back-up when they saw smoke pouring out of the eaves of the store.

The building was heavily smokelogged, and fire personnel wearing breathing apparatus were withdrawn at 3am for their own safety. The firefighting operation continued from the outside of the building.

A command meeting at 4am led to a decision to use disc cutters on roller shutter doors to make another entry point for the firefighters, who were then able to go a short distance back inside. By 6am the fire was under control.

Nearby roads were closed for a period of time. A significant amount of stock was destroyed but much of the building's structure did not appear to be badly damaged.