Fire rips through derelict Leicestershire factory

Firefighters spent the night tackling a blaze at a derelict five-storey building in Ashby De La Zouch.

No-one was injured in the blaze, which is believed to have started on the first floor.

Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, is a director of Dunkin Rushton Ltd, the property development company which owns the site.

He claimed the fire was arson, citing problems with vandals breaking in since it was vacated in November. It was scheduled for demolition next month.

An exclusion zone has been set up around the building on Burton Road as part of it has now collapsed. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.