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Claims by a Cornish 'terror' group, dubbed the 'Ooh R A', of carrying out an arson attack at Rick Stein's restaurant have been dismissed by firefighters.

A blaze broke out at the celebrity chef's restaurant in Porthleven, Cornwall, last month when a bin store went up in flames.

A group, which calls itself the Cornish Republican Army (CRA), claimed responsibility for the fire at the weekend after it was initially thought to be an arson attack.

(Image: SWNS.com)

The nationalist unit has been widely mocked after it broke its silence after 10 years and told how it had a willing female suicide bomber among its ranks.

But Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has rubbished the group's claims after an investigation which revealed the most probable cause of the blaze was an electrical fault.

The CRA said in a statement: "We did set off a practice [explosive] device in the old Redruth Brewery and are responsible for the two fires in Truro and the one in Penryn.

"We are also responsible for the damage to Stein s restaurant. We have removed literally scores of blood cross flags and destroyed them.

"We have also issued warnings to owners of holiday businesses flying the blood cross flag."

(Image: Mullion Fire Station / SWNS.com)

But Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fire service have confirmed that the likely outcome was probably an electrical issue and not one of deliberate ignition."

The CRA said it had to change its name from the Cornish Nationalist Liberation Army because its name had been used by others, Devon Live reports.

But the reboot was compared to Monty Python film The Life of Brian in which the 'Judean People's Front' feuded with its rival 'People's Front of Judea'.

Locals also mocked the move to create a Cornish IRA (Irish Republican Army), making reference to the 'Ooh R A'.

References were also made to comedian Jack Whitehall's The Bad Education Movie, which revolved around a school trip to Cornwall and included a Cornish Republican Army line.

The CRA posted an announcement on its blog to say it is set to receive substantial funding from Celtic Countries and from Irish groups in the US.

(Image: SWNS)

It also claimed to have welcomed members from the Free Wales Army ( FWA), the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) and members of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and the now defunct Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provisional IRA).

The Cornish Republic Army says it has limited weapons available but intends to rely on more controlled methods to achieve its aims.