Pub damaged in overnight arson attack

A pub in Randalstown, County Antrim, has been severely damaged in an overnight arson attack.

Two "Yellow Godessess" from Ballymena, which responded to the emergency call, attended the blaze at the bar in Main Street, Randalstown, at 2.30am this morning. No injuries were reported in the blaze which extensively damaged the licensed premises.

Military personnel using breathing apparatus took almost two hours to contain the fire.

While, the cause of the fire is being further investigated, arson is suspected and police have appealed for witnesses who saw any suspicious activity in the area of the bar to contact detectives in Antrim.

A police spokesperson confirmed that since 9.00pm last night 62 calls had been made to emergency services and of these just nine proved hoaxes. Of the 30 genuine calls requiring emergency services, the "Yellow Goddesses" were deployed on ten occasions.

Police said that during the course of the contingency arrangements, emergency services had received 624 emergency call outs of these 123 were hoaxes. There were 240 genuine calls and "Yellow Goddesses" had been dispatched to incidents on 114 occasions.

(SP)