Arson at former Corus plant

Four fire crews were called to tackle a blaze which ripped through the roof of a derelict Black Country steel factory, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Arsonists are being blamed for the fire at the former Corus factory, off Bloomfield Road, in Tipton, and police think metal thieves had also broken in to strip it of copper. 

The emergency services received numerous calls at around 8.20pm from passing motorists and witnesses, who reported flames and smoke rising from the premises. 

Two fires had been started inside the factory, one in the mezzanine office area and another inside the roof space. 

Crews from Tipton, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Dudley stations attended. Steve Ball, watch commander at West Bromwich Fire Station, said: “Whoever is responsible had made a little small hole in the ceiling, just enough to crawl through, and they had gone up there and set fire to it.