LOSS of life could have resulted from two incidents of vandalism in the Liskeard area at the weekend.

In one incident a heavy wrought iron gate was stolen, and then thrown over a bridge on to the main A38 road, while in the other a fire was started in tea rooms containing calor gas bottles.

The tea rooms, at Dobwalls football club, were completely gutted in what seems to have been an arson attack. The fire, which was spotted by a motorist passing by around 8pm on Saturday, was so intense nothing could be salvaged, despite the best actions of attending firefighters. Such was the heat that all the aluminium teapots inside melted.

Club manager, John Dunn, said because there were calor gas bottles inside he 'shuddered to think' what could have happened. He said: 'Thinking about it, it could have gone up like a bomb.' He added it appeared the vandals had ripped a panel from the side of the hut to gain entry, and then made a fire inside. Strangely, afterwards a bottle of bleach and washing up liquid were found, as if they had been thrown out of the tea room. He said: 'Whether someone lit it, and then panicked and decided to try and clean up, I don't know. But we would like anyone who witnessed anything to come forward to help catch those responsible. Perhaps they would like to talk to the local police, or contact someone at the club.'

The club, which runs a number of young teams to help keep children off the streets and give them an interest, is now faced with having to find the money to replace the purpose built hut.

John said they were hoping to redevelop eventually, but that would not happen soon enough for them not to have to build a replacement from which to serve teas and other light refreshments.

Incident

In the other incident a wrought iron gate was stolen from the front garden of a home in Station Road, Liskeard, not far from the bridge over the main A38, near Lamellion Hospital. This was then thrown over the bridge, at a good height from the dual carriageway - but thankfully did not fall on a car.

The householder, who discovered the gate missing the following day, said: 'We went searching for it, and saw it on the bank by the side of the road. We phoned the police and they said a motorist had reported driving over it, and it had then been dragged to the side for safety. It really was a mindless, senseless act which in actual fact could have been far more serious. If it had hit a car someone would undoubtedly have been killed.'