Mystery surrounds caravan blaze

A caravan was gutted by fire next to a community garden which residents had planted to prevent fly-tipping and abandoned cars.

Fire-fighters tackled the blaze during the early hours of Wednesday morning (April 15, 2009) and debris, including war memorabilia, was scattered around the scene at Spenser Road, Bedford.

One of the items still legible was a certificate from the British Legion addressed to a Mr D King although it is unknown who the owner of the caravan is.

Councillor for the area Colleen Atkins, who is also a member of the Bedfordshire Fire Authority, expressed her concerns that the wreckage had not been removed.

She said that it was a danger to children playing in the area and also to motorists coming around the bend at night.

On Friday (April 17), Bedford Borough Council removed the caravan and a spokesman said that it was 'following reports of a health and safety concern to the public'.

The land next to the where the caravan was removed from is the Chaucer Road/Spenser Road Community Garden that residents planted to make the area attractive.

Cllr Atkins said: "I am pleased that as soon as I contacted Stewart Briggs, the Director at Bedford Borough Council, and he heard what was happening, he immediately authorised his team to remove it.

"Coincidentally, I've been a member of the Fire Authority for just two weeks, and here I am with this just yards from my home.

"It's normally a nice, quiet area and I'm saddened that something like this has happened."

A spokesman for the Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service said that the cause of the fire was classified as 'doubtful' meaning that there was no evidence to suggest whether it was accidental or deliberate.

■ Anyone with any information relating to the fire or the owner of the caravan should contact Bedfordshire Police on 01234 841212.