A FIRE at the rear of a disused bathroom and kitchen showroom in Old Town is believed to have been started deliberately.
The fire started in rubbish which had been left at the rear of the three-storey property, next to the Wheatsheaf pub in Newport Street.
It spread to a lean-to before fire-fighters arrived at around 10.40pm on Friday.
The fire brigade initially received an anonymous call.
Fire-fighters assumed it was a false alarm when staff at the pub reported no problems.
They were about to leave when officers spotted smoke coming from a window of the showroom, which has been empty for several months.
Around 50 drinkers in the pub were evacuated as a precaution.
One appliance from Swindon and one from Stratton attended the incident.
Firefighter Simon Gunning, who was in charge of the operation, said: "There was slight damage to the roof of the lean-to and the property was filled with smoke."
Peter Dunfield, landlord of the Wheatsheaf, said: "I thought I could smell burning about 10 minutes before the fire-fighters arrived.
"I had a look at the back of the property, but couldn't see anything. I assumed it must have been a barbecue somewhere."
The Royal Oak pub next to the property was unaffected.
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