Award-winning chef 'shocked' at restaurant attack

The chef who won Cornwall's first Michelin star has been left "shocked" after a suspected arson attack at his restaurant.

Viners restaurant, at Summercourt, near Newquay, was targeted in the early hours of Thursday. Fire crews from St Columb and St Denis were called to a blaze on the ground floor of the building at Carvynick Farm, at about 2am. A window pane had been smashed and a fire started inside, according to police who are investigating the incident.

Kevin Viner, who shot to fame when his Falmouth eaterie Pennypots became the first in the county to feature in the famous guide, was barred from his own restaurant while officers inspected the damage.

He told the BBC he had been "shocked" by the attack at the restaurant, which was given a Bib Gourmand budget award by the Michelin Guide in 2010.

Mr Viner said: "It looks as though a window was broken and someone started a fire at the rear of the building.

"It is an incident site with the police now and I haven't been allowed inside the building to see the damage."

Three fire appliances and a total of 14 firefighters attended the fire, using breathing apparatus to enter the building.

Devon and Cornwall Police have appealed for information. A spokesman said: "A single-glazed pane of glass was smashed and a fire started inside – it is being investigated as arson."