POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack at an Okehampton factory after three youths were seen in the vicinity.
The fire at Southern Lubricants around May 4, which was caused by breaking the fuel pipes at the back of the factory and setting light to the leaking diesel, destroyed the complete rear elevation of the building.
Joint owner of the business Ben Moore, who relocated to Okehampton from Exeter three and a half years ago because he thought it would be 'quiet and safe', said someone must know something.
'It was very lucky someone spotted the smoke — had it been a few hours later at around midnight, we almost
certainly would have lost the factory,' he said.
'These kids were not messing around. You do not break someone's fuel pipe and set it alight just for the hell of it. Whoever it was must have been stinking with diesel when they got home.'
This was the second attack on the factory in two weeks — on the last occasion windows were broken.
Mr Moore said he did not believe his premises was being targeted but it was being used as a children's playground.
'It is not the sort of place where children should be playing,' he added. 'What this incident has also done has made local residents nervous of living next to an oil factory but I want to reassure them that we do not keep oil on the premises.'
Southern Lubricants, which employs seven people, has been able to carry on trading despite extensive damage but the owners say repair work will run into tens of thousands.
'I do not particularly want to put up ten-foot gates with razor wire all around the factory but if I have to I will — I think it is an outrage what has been done.'
Anyone with information concerning this crime should contact PC Dave Langsford through the police central switchboard number of 08705 777444.