28/07/12….UPDATE: Police treating railway fire as arson

28/07/12 – PHOTO: Taken at the scene by 13 year-old Aaron Sabin. Aaron told Thamenews.Net: “I live in the new Taylor wimpy housing developments. The fire was near my house. I heard a helicopter outside my house with the flash light shining and a warning message saying: ‘Hands on your head’ or something like that. I did hear the police helicopter say something but I don’t think the helicopter could see anyone. The helicopter then went away once one police car arrived, and then one fire engine arrived and they had to break the fence to get into the building site to reach the fire. Then loads off backup arrived just in case it exploded I suppose!”

27/07/12 – THAMES Valley Police is treating the destruction of a historic railway carriage earlier this morning as arson and is asking for witnesses to come forward to help them with their enquiries.

The coach, which was destroyed by the fire, was built in the 1930s and is known as a London Midland and Scottish Railway Observation Coach.

A statement issued earlier this evening says:

At about 2am today (26/7), the Thames Valley Police helicopter observed a fire near a private railway station belonging to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association, which is a registered charity.

Police officers and the fire service attended and dealt with the incident. The fire destroyed an historic carriage which was on railway sidings some distance away from the station.

An investigation has been launched and officers are working closely with the charity to keep them fully informed.

Investigating officer PC Martin Davis, of Thame police station, is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He said: ?This railway is run entirely by volunteers so this incident has caused a great deal of upset.

?We are currently treating the incident as arson and would like to appeal to anyone who saw people acting suspiciously in the area of the railway station in the early hours of this morning, to come forward. I would also like to speak to anyone who has any further information which could assist our inquiry.?

If you can help, please call PC Davis via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

PHOTO: Taken at the scene by Aaron Sabin