Precious antiques have been destroyed in a fire at a Hamilton furniture store, with the owner of the business blaming arsonists.

Mitra Johnston told The Royal Gazette she believed the blaze at Auction De Mitra and Shiraz Galleria on Court Street was deliberately started in the early hours of Wednesday to cover up a burglary.

Ms Johnston said several rugs and a square antique table were missing from her store and that the fire caused most damage in her downstairs office. She said that room contained cameras, which she believed the culprit targeted on purpose.

"I had so many antique pieces in here," she said. "I kept them for special customers. Now they're all burnt up. Everything has smoke damage. I had a beautiful cedar china cabinet. We had to take it to the dump."

Ms Johnston said she was thankful she had already secured new premises on Serpentine Road. "In a way, I'm happy, because God came through with a better location and nobody got hurt."

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said: "Suspicious circumstances are suspected. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way."

Lieutenant Dana Lovell, of Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, said investigators had not ruled out arson after spending Wednesday searching for clues.

Lt. Lovell said the fire — which destroyed household appliances and carpets — took hold at about 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday, with three appliances and two command cars dispatched to deal with it, along with Police.

"When we arrived our firefighters were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions," said Lt. Lovell. "They forced entry into the building and two firefighters with breathing apparatus and a one-and-a-half inch hose line brought the fire under control.

"There is extensive damage to the contents of the building and heat and smoke damage to the structure."

The building used to be known as Booth Hall and formerly housed the commercial section of the Supreme Court, until it became infested with mould.