by Alan Quick

THE Central Convenience Store and Post Office at Copplestone suffered a second blow at about 11am this morning (Monday, October 23) when an electrical fire caused the evacuation of the store.

Smoke was pouring from the electrical cabinet in a corner of the store and the staff immediately got everyone out and called Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Two fire crews from Crediton as well as one from North Tawton and another from Exeter attended.

After putting out the fire and making the area safe, the crews called Western Power to make the electrics safe.

The store was still closed this lunchtime.

Western Power used a “cherry picker” vehicle to carry out works to electrics outside the premises while colleagues worked inside the Store.

It was a shock for one member of staff as it was her first day working at the Store.

No-one was injured.

It was during the early hours of Sunday, August 27 that a number of youths, it is believed four, broke-into the Central Convenience Store and Post Office, stealing £2,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco and causing a great deal of damage.

After an extensive search during the morning, three of the youths, all aged 18, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, as well as for the theft of mopeds and bicycles in other raids in the area, by police near Crediton Railway Station and the Crediton Tesco store at Wellparks.

The Tarka Line between Copplestone and Newton St Cyres was closed during the police search because the youths were reported to be on the railway line.