Blaze destroys charity minibuses

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Three minibuses and a coach which were used by charities for disabled people and community groups have been destroyed by a "suspicious" fire.

The vehicles, which were specially adapted for wheelchair users, were gutted in the blaze at Llynfi Valley Community Transport in Bridgend.

It is estimated the three-year-old buses were worth around £140,000.

Investigators said the fire, which started in the early hours of Monday, is being treated as "suspicious".

Llynfi Valley Community Transport, which is based on Tondu Enterprise Park, has been running for two years after its volunteers worked for six years to obtain the necessary grants and funding to run it.

It provides affordable transport to around 50 charities and organisations in the county, including Y Bont, which is a charity that works with children who have severe disabilities.

People give up all their time and energy to put something like this together and some silly person comes along and ruins it Caroline Marlow, of Llynfi Valley Community Transport

Caroline Marlow, treasurer and volunteer at Llynfi Valley Community Transport, said the fire was a "disaster" for the charity and those who used its vehicles.

"Four out of our five buses have been burnt to the ground," she said.

Rallied to help

"One is just a burnt-out shell. Everyone is devastated. My attitude is why? Why take away something that's there to help people?

"People give up all their time and energy to put something like this together and some silly person comes along and ruins it. I'm very angry."

The buses - which range from 15-seater minibuses to a 40-seater coach - had been adapted for disabled people with lifts, lower steps and removable seats to allow wheelchairs on board.

Mrs Marlow, who helped found the transport charity eight years ago, said they received grants from Bridgend council and the National Lottery to buy the buses.

She said the vehicles, which had cost about £37,000 each and had been bought in the last three years, were all driven by volunteers.

The charity is waiting for its insurance company to get back to them about covering the cost of the fire.

Meanwhile, she said other community transport groups in south Wales had rallied to help, with many offering to lend vehicles and drivers.

South Wales Police and the fire service were called to the industrial estate just after 0145 BST on Monday.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it is treating the fire as "suspicious".

It said the fire also caused extensive damage to the surrounding units on the industrial estate.

Fire investigators are preparing to hand the unit over to the police as a crime scene.