Pilates studio and cosmetic clinic hit by petrol bomb attack

Seven fire engines attended a fire at at a Pilates studio and cosmetic clinic on Hawthorn Lane in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, 17th January).

Firefighters from Poynton, Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Congleton, with the aerial appliance from Macclesfield and three from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to a two-storey building which was well alight at 2.23am.

The property is a converted printworks now comprising several business units and the fire was started by a petrol bomb being thrown through the side door. 

Crews, eight wearing breathing apparatus, used four hose reel jets and two main jets to tackle the blaze inside the complex layout of the building. Using aggressive firefighting techniques they were able to stop the fire spreading to the roof space.

They then checked the rest of the area to see if the fire had spread further. Meanwhile firefighters continued to use two hose reel jets and two main jets to tackle the fire from the outside.

At 4am, four breathing apparatus and a hose reel were in use as firefighters investigated the smoke from the shop floor and to monitor the roof to ensure no fire had spread.

A short time later the fire was declared fully extinguished with crews dampening down the area, checking for hot spots using a thermal imaging camera and removing ceiling from the first floor.

Whilst the Pilates Studio was completely destroyed by the fire, the door also provided a back entrance into the MediSpa cosmetics clinic, which is located on the ground floor and the front of the building. MediSpa is believed to have been the target of the attack and was also badly damaged by the fire.

DS Matt Ashton said: "At 2.08am a man was seen arriving on a moped or scooter, which had an 'L' plate on the front. He was seen at the side door before the building is set alight.

"An abandoned moped was then recovered at 10.35am from Mount Pleasant in Wilmslow, which we believe is connected to the fire. I'd urge anyone who may have been in these two areas at the time and saw suspicious activity or have dashcam footage that may help to contact police.

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or online quoting IML 296559.

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