The cause of the fire is being looked into.

Gillingham police are looking into a vehicle fire that started, but they are unable to rule out the possibility that the fire was started intentionally or accidentally. The Dorset Police team was alerted to the fire on the road between Milton Abbas and Bourton at about 2:30 pm on Sunday, June 30, and they are now looking for witnesses to the incident.

The event concerned a white Ford van that caught fire in the layby on Fantley Lane, a little distance outside of Silton. Traffic was barred from the road while emergency personnel battled the fire.

The fire department put out the fire and made arrangements for the car to be recovered. An inquiry is in progress to ascertain the origin of the fire.

Officers are now pleading with anyone who knows anything to come forward. “At this time the cause of the fire has not been confirmed and we are unable to say whether it was deliberate or accidental,” North Dorset Police Constable Ed Lewis stated.

“We are in the process of conducting investigations to determine the facts, and I kindly ask anyone who has any information about suspicious activity in the area or dashcam footage to come forwards.”

If you have any information, please get in touch with Dorset Police by phoning 101 and mentioning occurrence number 55220068133, emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or visiting www.dorset.police.uk/contact. Alternatively, you can reach the independent charity Crimestoppers by phoning Freephone 0800 555 111 or by making an anonymous online donation at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

The body of a man in his 50s has been found in a town centre.

An elderly man’s body was discovered in Gillingham’s Green Street.

Police were called to concerns for the welfare of a man in Green Street, Gillingham at 1.22pm yesterday (June 26).

Officers and paramedics attended and a man in his 50s was confirmed to be deceased.

His death is being treated as non-suspicious and a report has been completed for the coroner.

Gillingham’s Woodlands Road is closed for emergency repairs by UK Power Networks.

Due to emergency work, a major route will be closed for approximately one week.

A portion of Gillingham’s Woodlands Road is closed to enable experts from UK Power Networks to fix an underground wire.

The neighbourhood will benefit from the works in maintaining consistent power supply, according to a representative for the energy company.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by our roadworks and will finish the work as soon as possible,” they continued.

According to Medway Council, “emergency works” are the reason for the road restriction, which is effective as of today, May 29.

Delays are probable as it is anticipated to be closed off until Tuesday, June 4.