THE devastated owners of a High Street café have vowed to battle on for their customers and staff following a suspected arson attack on their “dream” business.

Owners of Butters Café, Stuart and Debbie Blake, were awoken in the early hours of Sunday to the news that their High Street venue was ablaze.

The panicked couple arrived shortly after firefighters had extinguished the blaze, which broke out inside the property’s front door at around 1.45am.

Two bonsai-style trees were destroyed by the flames, which reached the “top of the door frame”, according to Mr and Mrs Blake.

Three windows were also damaged in the incident, which police are treating as arson.

A group, including the Blakes and their son Gary, did a heroic clean-up job after the fire, working until 7am to get the café open in time for breakfast.

Despite reporting business as usual on Sunday, the couple have still been left shaken by the incident.

A disheartened Mrs Blake said: “It’s devastating but we can’t afford to be shut.

“We’ve got staff to pay, particularly at this time of year with Christmas coming up. They’ve got their bills and rents to pay.

“We have to keep fighting for them and our customers.”

The parents-of-two have run the popular café and live music venue for the last three years.

In that time they claim they have invested “nearly everything” into the business, including selling off a holiday motorhome and various cars.

However Mr Blake says he and his wife are “living the dream” in running the café and have no intention of giving up.

Mr Blake, a builder by trade, said: “This isn’t going to change anything. We won’t close.

“I think if you run a business you need to take things like this on the chin.

“You never expect it to happen though."

He added: “This is something that you would see on television. You don’t see it in Andover.

“Initially its devastating because you feel people are coming at you personally but they aren’t. It’s just mindless vandalism.”

Police have since arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of arson following the incident.

The man, from Andover, was also arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary with intent.

He has been bailed to January 31 pending further enquiries.