THE owner of a caravan centre destroyed by an arson attack said the only way the culprits will be caught is if someone gives them up.

Five months ago a blaze caused more than £1.5 million worth of damage to Mendip Caravan Centre, Pill, but police still have no idea who started it.

More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze that destroyed more than 100 caravans and mobile homes in October.

The centre is now fully re-open but police are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which officers are treating as a deliberate attack.

Mendip director Rob Lynch said: "It would be nice to get the culprit off the street. Our only hope is that someone gives them up, that someone reveals something in a police interview."

A Gwent Police spokeswoman confirmed they still do not know who started the fire. She said: "Nobody has been arrested or charged in this case. Inquiries are ongoing, and we would appeal for anyone with information to call us."

Mr Lynch praised the police investigation but added: "Unfortunately there was no forensic evidence to nail anybody because it got burnt, and our CCTV footage was not accurate enough to pinpoint anybody."

Mr Lynch said the centre now has extra security, including a night watchman. "We are back up and running as if this never happened. We have opened a showroom and new workshops, and are now busy again.

"The immediate cost of lost stock was £1.5 million. We won't know how much it has cost the business until twelve months after it happened, when we can compare our takings with the previous year.

"This area is renowned for fires and it was our turn."

Firefighters from all the Newport stations, Cwmbran, Caerphilly, Barry and Pontyclun, were called to the site at around 4am on October 21 last year.

The huge blaze was made worse by gas cylinders exploding.

Firefighters using six fire pumps, four water carriers and a hydraulic platform brought the blaze under control in a few hours.

No one was hurt. Anyone with information can call police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111