Two men charged with arson following Cycle King blaze in Bury St Edmunds

Two men have been charged with arson almost a year after a fire ripped through the Cycle King store and surrounding buildings in Bury St Edmunds.

Ashley Finley, 24, of Borley Crescent, Elmswell, and Dysney James Sibbons, 22, of Flatford Close, Stowmarket, were summoned to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday.

They were charged with destroying the store on Angel Hill and causing damage to the neighbouring One Bull pub and Francela restaurant, the cost of which was said to total £1.6 million.

Around 60 firefighters and 12 fire engines battled the blaze for two hours on the evening of Friday, September 29 last year.

Two men aged 22 and 23 were immediately arrested on suspicion of arson and taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. They were released pending further enquiries.

The One Bull and Francela were forced to close as a result of the damage, with Francela re-opening around two weeks later.

The One Bull suffered extensive water damage to its interior after firefighters dampened the walls to create a ‘fire break’ and stop the flames from spreading. It re-opened more than four months later in February.

A temporary Cycle King shop was set up in Chamberlayne Road, with a view of returning to the site on Angel Hill once the shop is rebuilt.

Finley and Sibbons are due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday, September 25.