CONFUSION reigns over the cause of the blaze which destroyed the Co-op store at Hamworthy.

Initial police reports said the fire, which gutted the store on Blandford Road, was not suspicious.

But three days later fire investigators said they did believe it was started deliberately, in paper recycling containers to the rear of the store.

At the time fire investigation officer Roy Pinder said: "We have confirmed that Saturday's fire, which has destroyed a central part of the community, was started deliberately."

But yesterday Detective Sergeant Garry Knight of Poole CID said: "Following a full scene examination by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Specialists and Dorset Police Crime Scene Investigators, there was one seat of fire, and there is no evidence to suggest that the fire was cause by any criminal action. It is not being treated as arson."

A spokesman for Dorset Fire Service said its records showed no new information yesterday.

She added: "As far as I can tell you it was established that the cause was deliberate."

The premises were gutted after a fire in the early hours of Saturday, depriving a shocked community of a vital facility and putting 49 staff out of work. The repair bill is expected to reach £4.5million.

A spokesman for the Co-op said: "This is an unexpected development and we will liaise with the police before making any further comment."

The Co-op is laying on a new free bus service to enable its customers to shop at another of its stores, at Corfe Mullen.

Its new service begins on Monday and will operate daily except Sunday.

The bus will pick up from four locations on Blandford Road, at Hamworthy First School, the Co-op site, Red Lion pub and Citroen garage at 9am, 12noon and 3pm.

It will return from Corfe Mullen to Hamworthy at 11am, 2pm and 5pm.

Hamworthy Co-op manager Phil Prescott said: "We want to do everything we can for our loyal customers, who, like us have been severely affected by this fire.

"We hope that they will take us up on our offer of free transport to our Corfe Mullen store until our temporary store is up and running," he said.

The Co-op pledged to rebuild its Hamworthy store, which could cost £4.5 million.