POLICE have not ruled out arson after Darvell's Yard in Chorleywood was engulfed in flames on Saturday, February 2.

Firefighters had to battle through the night to control the fire in Common Road, which burned down two businesses and damaged empty units in the converted farm buildings.

About 50 firefighters fought the blaze after being alerted by a 999 call at 8.55pm. There were 17 fire engines in total throughout the night.

Leading Firefighter Andy Corfe, from Rickmansworth Fire Station, said: "It was going end to end with flames up to three or four metres high. There was lots of smoke drifting across the neighbouring properties. You could see the smoke from Chorleywood Road."

There was a shortage of water and they had to take water from the pond in Chorleywood Common and a nearby swimming pool.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze.

The Liberal Democrats were holding a fundraising quiz night in Memorial Hall in Common Road when the fire started.

Councillor Martin Trevett, who represents the village for Three Rivers District Council, said: "Seeing it from a distance, it looked like the whole place had gone up because the flames were leaping 20 or 30 feet in the air."

The fire was put out by 11.51pm, but there were firefighters at the yard on Sunday, making sure it did not re-ignite.

Car Ops and MJ Fabrications were the two businesses razed in the fire, but other companies at the site have had their business affected by the lack of access to the yard because the entrance has been left insecure.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Chorleywood Parish Council agreed to an immediate change of the by-laws for a month to allow the businesses to park in the lorry car park in Common Road.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue said: "Two senior officers have formed a fire investigation team. We sent a fire investigation dog handler with a dog called Browza. He did not detect anything.

"However, at the moment one of the fire investigation officers is producing a report as part of a joint investigation by the fire serve and police."

A police spokesman said: "We are looking for any witnesses. If anybody saw anything suspicious, they are asked to contact DS George Pollard on 01923 472041."

The yard used to be owned by the Darvells, a prominent family in Chorleywood who used to own Chorleywood House. Following the death of Ms Connie Darvell a couple of years ago, her executors sold the yard last summer at auction to Banc Properties, a property development company.

Because of the sale, Three Rivers District Council made a planning brief for the site - a document that states a local authority's views on how a site should be redeveloped.

This did not rule out the possibility of residential development.

Mr Norman Barnet, director of Banc Properties, said: "We are very upset and would like to know the cause. It is being investigated by our insurers, but it is early days."