UK NEWS

FEARS FOR 'ARSON ATTACK' FAMILY

Police are concerned for the safety of a family whose home was damaged by fire

Wednesday August 27,2008

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A millionaire and his family are missing after their country estate was burned down in suspected arson attack.

Police launched a major investigation following the blaze in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, Shropshire, which broke out shortly before 5am on Tuesday.

It is not known if Jillian and Christopher Foster and their teenage daughter Kirsty were in Osbaston House at the time of the fire, but all three remain unaccounted for.

The country house, which has a stable block and kennels, is reportedly worth £1.2 million.

Due to the severity of the fire, officers have been unable to enter the property but a full search will take place when the scene is deemed safe, police said.

CCTV footage has been recovered from the property and around 80 officers and staff are working on the investigation, named Operation Feedback.

Detective Superintendent Jon Groves, from West Mercia Constabulary's Major Incident Unit, said: "There was a CCTV system at the property, which has been recovered by officers and will be examined over the coming days. The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged. Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs, which we believe were in a kennel block, are missing.

According to reports, Mr Foster is a multi-millionaire businessman who made his fortune developing insulation technology for oil rigs.

A friend of Mr Foster told The Daily Mail Online he had recently expressed concerns about the credit crunch. Builder Gordon Richards said: "When I saw Chris a few days ago, he seemed happy, but he said he was feeling the pinch at work because of the credit crunch."

He went on: "He used to have two Porsches and an Aston Martin, and he goes shooting and fishing in his spare time. Chris had just bought himself a horse, which he shows, and their daughter, who goes to boarding school, also rides."