DEVASTATED and angry charity shop workers in Chard have urged residents not to leave donations on the doorstep after a bag of clothes was set alight at the weekend.

Store manager Karen Webster said the “thoughtless act” by the culprits had put the lives of others in danger, as residents occup the flat above the shop.

Mrs Webster and fellow Holyrood Street traders told The News how grateful they were that the fire was caught so early, given the ageing wooden elements of the shopfronts.

Firefighters received a call to attend the RSPCA store in Holyrood Street on Sunday at about 7.40pm.

Two fire engines attended and crews confirmed there had been a fire in the porch area of the shop involving a bag of donated clothing.

Mrs Webster said: “We have a sign in the door urging people not to just leave their bags on the doorstep.

“As lovely as it is that people want to donate their items, it causes a risk of theft, vandalism or in this case fire – this could have been a matter of life or death.

“I feel angry at the moment because people do this without thinking of the consequences.

“We need more CCTV in the town, if the police are not going to be around as much – we need protecting with cameras.”

RSPCA South-West branch manager Roger Dixon added: “We are all a bit devastated because it had only just been refurbished in October – the staff were really proud of it but now it has filled up with smoke.

“This is going to cost us a lot of money to rectify and I think most of the donated clothes will have to be thrown out because they are so smoky and we haven’t got the facility to wash them.

“It is not a nice place to be at the moment but I would just reiterate to members of the public not to just leave bags on the doorstep.”

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the bag of donated clothes was severely damaged by fire and heat, the front door of the shop sustained 50% fire damage and there was slight smoke damage to the interior of the property.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: “We were called at 7.45pm on Sunday to report of a fire outside the RSPCA shop in Holyrood Street, when a bag of clothes left there appears to have been deliberately set alight.

“Enquiries are continuing but if anyone has any information please call Chard police on 101 quoting reference 11224/15.”

n A 15-year-old boy from the Chard area was arrested on Tuesday morning on suspicion of arson.