A FIRE that devastated a stable block belonging to top trainer Luca Cumani was started accidentally, it is believed.

About 40 firefighters from across the county were called to the prestigious Bedford House yard in Newmarket after a fire was reported in the roof of a stable block on Monday morning.

Witnesses told how nine two-year-old horses were led to safety by staff after smoke was seen drifting from the 30-metre long stable.

Yesterday crews, who had spent more than seven hours fighting the flames, returned to the Bury Road site to investigate the cause of the blaze.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said an initial examination of the yard suggested the fire had been started accidentally, possibly by “hot equipment” such as a welding device.

Noel Byrne, chief executive of neighbouring Bedford Lodge Hotel, which is currently carrying out building work on a new spa adjacent to the scene of the fire, said he was pleased that no horses or people had been injured in the incident.

He added: “We have supported the fire service in every aspect of the inquiry and are also working with the Cumani racing stable.”

Mr Cumani, whose stables were once home to Derby winners Kahyasi and High Rise, was yesterday unavailable for comment.

He previously told the EADT: “It’s very upsetting, one doesn’t like to see things destroyed by fire”.