THE operator of the attendant's hut at Tavistock Meadows which burnt down in a suspicious fire last week has defiantly vowed to carry on despite the suspected arson attack.

A large amount of equipment, including putting green golf clubs and balls, bowling woods, tennis rackets and cricket bats were destroyed in the fire.

Vandals also threw some equipment in the canal.

'We are up and running again, continuing as best we can,' said franchise owner Sharon Derbyshire, who takes bookings for the Meadows facilities and hires out sports equipment. A replacement hut has been cleared out and the business was running again the morning after the blaze.

She said she was grateful to those Tavistock residents who rallied round to offer support as she and her husband tried to begin again. 'People have been bringing their bowls and practice golf balls and old tennis rackets and balls.'

Mrs Derbyshire said although she had been upset and angered by the fire she was adamant she and her husband would not be beaten by it.

'There's no way anyone's going to stop us, they are not going to get to us,' she said.

All the records of bookings which had been made were destroyed in the blaze. Mrs Derbyshire said her family had also lost personal items in the fire, including tennis rackets.

Mrs Derbyshire and her husband only took over the franchise for operating the hut from the borough council in April, but she said things had been going well before this setback.

'We had built up a good business and a good relationship with regular customers,' she said.

The fire which destroyed the attendants' hut at the Meadows broke out at 3.30am on Wednesday, August 7.

Devon Fire and Rescue were called out to the blaze and found an accelerator had been used to start the fire.