POLICE investigating a blaze which wrecked a site office at the Inkerman foot-and-mouth burial site, near Tow Law, County Durham, say the incident may have been arson.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Saturday and destroyed the temporary cabin, along with computer equipment, fax, and office furniture.

The site has been the subject of protests since it opened at the beginning of May. Police said last night that arson was suspected.

A spokesman said: "One of the security guards saw smoke coming from a cabin and called the fire brigade. By the time they arrived the fire was well established."

A spokesman for the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs said: "We have been told that the cause is suspicious and police are investigating, but we don't know if there is any connection with the protest."

Campaigner Jean White said: "We haven't got a clue who has done this and it certainly wasn't us - but we aren't upset about it.