A Nisa store in Kelloholm was set alight just after midnight last night, causing internal and external damage to the premises.

At 12.05 am this morning (Wednesday, November 25), police officers attended a call to the Scott Street store which was found to be on fire.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Dumfries and Galloway, who extinguished the fire, said it was not an accident and that they believed it was started deliberately and with malicious intent.

Detective Constable Thomas Dingwall of Crime Management Services with Dumfries Galloway Police Division said: "Police were called to the Nisa store around 12:05 AM this morning after an intruder alarm was activated." 

"On officers arrival, they observed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service extinguishing a fire which was coming from the store."

"The fireraising incident is being treated as malicious and enquiries are under way in order to identify the person responsible."

Inspector Graeme Stitt said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area around the time of this incident, both before and after midnight, and might have seen anything suspicious.

“If anyone has dash-cam footage or private CCTV then please get in touch. If you can help with our enquiries please call us on 101, quoting incident 0007 of Wednesday, 25 November, or contact the charity Crimestopper anonymously on 0800 555 111.”