GP surgery saved from blaze

THE actions of quick-thinking fire crews have been praised after a town centre doctor's surgery was saved when a fierce blaze broke out in a neighbouring garage.

Firefighters were called to tackle the flames at the building in Sudbury's Meadow Lane at around 9pm on Saturday.

On arrival, they discovered the adjoining surgery, along with what is thought to be a residential property, had also become involved in the incident.

But the hard work and quick-thinking of two crews from Sudbury and one based in Long Melford helped prevent the flames spreading, limiting damage to the Meadow Lane Surgery to smoke-logging alone.

Had the facility been destroyed, it is thought scores of patients could have been affected.

Although it is not yet known how the blaze began, a joint police and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service investigation is now taking place.

"The fire began in a garage adjoining the surgery," said Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Stuart Hood, based in Bury St Edmunds.

"When crews arrived, they found the garage to be heavily involved in fire.

"The garage sat between the surgery and another property, and the fire had started to spread, smoke-logging the surgery and affecting the neighbouring property."

Firefighters had brought the flames under control within an hour of the blaze beginning, and remained at the scene later into the night as an investigation into the cause was launched.

"Due to the hard work done by the crews, we managed to stop the fire spreading," added ADO Hood.

"Damage was limited to a small amount in the neighbouring property, and there was no structural damage caused to the surgery.

"The cause is still being investigated by the fire service and the police."

The Meadow Lane surgery was run by Dr Kailash Sarda before his retirement, and is now believed to be part of the Hardwick House group, which also has branches in Sudbury's Stour Street and Church Square, Bures.

No-one from the surgery was available for comment yesterday.