A BOAT hire service has been left without all of their equipment after their storage unit was torched in an early hours arson.

The owner of Bournemouth Boating Services in Tuckton said the wooden building had been condemned following the blaze on Monday.

Firefighters rushed to the scene in Belle Vue Road shortly before 4.30am and found the store contained 1,000 litres of fuel.

Dorset Police detectives have launched an investigation into the fire, which was reportedly started deliberately.

Jason Giddings, owner of Bournemouth Boating Services, said: “The council has said the building will have to be demolished.

"We have had to beg and borrow enough equipment to continue running our services and we are now without an office.”

The company is currently working from a gazebo by the River Stour.

A post on the Tuckton Tea Gardens and Bournemouth Boating Services Facebook page said: "We were victims of mindless arson last night but thankfully no one was injured.

"We are still trying our hardest to provide our customers with ferry services and self drive motor boats but please bear with us as we are having to operate a bit differently. Thanks for your understanding."

A Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "Three crews attended, two from Christchurch and one from Springbourne, together with a support appliance from Poole.

"The store contained 500 litres of diesel and 500 litres of petrol, and firefighters used two breathing apparatus wearers, a main jet and a foam jet to both extinguish the fire and contain it to the one part of the building.

"They also managed to contain a leakage of fuel into the river. The stop was at 5.33am and we had left the scene by 7.20am."

Southbourne Coastguard attended the scene due to concerns a boat may have been on fire but the incident was restricted to land. There were no reports of any injuries.

Detective Inspector Shaun Inkpen, of Bournemouth CID, said: “An investigation is underway into the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

“I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the vicinity in the early hours of Monday, August 23, to please come forward.

“I would urge any motorists who were travelling in the area to please check their dashcams for any relevant footage to assist my enquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, by emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55210135925. Alternatively, to stay anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.