A Gomersal filling station is expected to remain closed for at least a month after fire destroyed an office and storeroom and caused smoke damage to stock worth around £100,000.

The blaze on Sunday night at the Sunwin Food and Wines filling station in Oxford Road caused a total of £400,000 worth of damage at the newly-refurbished filling station and store.

Store manager Andy Westman said: "The fire wasn't likely to spread to the petrol pumps but it was lit beside our gas supply which could have gone up."

Insurance and building assessors visited the shop yesterday to inspect the damage.

The fire, which was started in rubbish bins, spread to the store through an extractor fan, burning stock and office equipment and filling the shop with smoke.

Fridges, freezers and ovens in a new delicatessen have been damaged by smoke and flames. Around £100,000 was spent on an extension and refurbishment work which was completed on New Year's Eve.

The store is continuing to sell fuel and lottery tickets.

l A 12-year-old boy will appear at Dewsbury and Batley Youth Court tomorrow charged with arson. He was arrested and questioned with another youth who was later released.

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