A BLAZE which badly damaged a Blaenavon factory at the weekend may have been started deliberately say investigators.

Fire crews battled to control the fire at the Andrew Russell premises in Forgeside Road, which was reported at 11.20pm on Saturday night.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, which took five crews from stations in Ebbw Vale, New Inn, Blaenavon and Abersychan four hours to control.

Fire investigators sifted through the ruins throughout Sunday and Monday, and yesterday they confirmed there was a 70 per cent possibility the fire had been started deliberately. Assistant divisional officer of South Wales Fire Service, Jeffrey Mears told the Argus there was strong evidence to suggest arson, and the matter was now "in the hands of the police."

A police spokesperson said: "A forensic team is still on site and our investigation is ongoing.

"We are not able to confirm at this stage whether the fire was started under suspicious circumstances."