Riding school blaze escape

MANGLED . . . what’s left of the destroyed stables

A COMMUNITY has rallied round to keep a riding school open after a devastating blaze destroyed 15 stables.

Husteads Riding School owner Judith Liversidge saved eight horses from the burning buildings in the nick of time with the help of neighbours.

It took up to 30 firefighters two days to finally defeat the blaze which engulfed the stables in Streetbridge Lane from 7.40pm on Thursday, pumping water from a lodge 40 yards away.

Mrs Liversidge said the damage had been catastrophic, wrecking 15 stables and two large hay barns, equipment, tools and feed.

While the stables have public liability insurance there is no buildings insurance and she said it will cost thousands. Eight stables remain.

The riding school was due to celebrate its 40th anniversary and people came together to make it business as usual over the weekend.

Mrs Liversidge said it was lucky that all her 26 horses weren’t in the stables and she was able to get there in time.

The 52-year-old lives in a log cabin in the grounds with her husband Nicholas but he was away at the time.

She had fed the horses, checked everywhere and locked up and was having her tea when neighbour Florence Leeson phoned to alert her.

Mrs Liversidge added: “I went outside and the whole roof of the top of the haybarn was engulfed. I stood and froze for a minute. Most of my horses I keep out but there were eight in that I use in the week.

“With the help of neighbour Gary Leeson I got them all out and the donkey and dog. People started to come up and we salvaged nearly everything so we are able to operate.

“We got all the horses out before the fire service got here and they were quick. If it had been the next day we would have had more than 20 horses in for the weekend. I could not have physically got them out. The fire was quickly a raging inferno.

“The horses are all well really. I’m just thankful I was here and I got the phone call at the right moment.

“We’re doing the lessons and everything the best way we can. I have some really good people here cleaning it all. It’s such devastation.

“We’re carrying on with a lot of help from the girls, riders and the community. Everyone has pulled together to help. The people have been absolutely fantastic and the firemen were brilliant. Everyone has rallied round.”

Phone lines and electricity have been downed but the couple have been offered accommodation, food and horse equipment.

Mrs Liversidge added: “It’s just amazing when you have something like this how people pull together.

“We are exhausted. We have just got so much on.”

Fire investigators are probing the cause with either an electrical fault or arson the most likely.