An arson attack may have destroyed antique timber in storage at the Black Country Living Museum.

There are fears today that some the wood destroyed could be historic and irreplaceable timber.

It is thought it was  being used to recreate the landmark Cradley Heath Workers Institute in a flagship project for the museum.

The blaze broke out in the early hours today,

Firefighters from Dudley fire station were called out to the museum just after 1.30am and said that although the corrugated iron shed where the fire started had held up well, some of the timber inside had been badly damaged.

Firefighter Bren Bladon said: “It looked as though the timber may have been used to restore a building as it seemed quite historic.”

He added: “It seems as though it was a suspicious fire.”

Pat York, site manager of the Black Country Living Museum, said they were still trying to find out what had been destroyed in the blaze because the shed did not belong to them but contractors working on site. 

Work began on the £1.5 million recreation of the Cradley Heath Workers Institute last year and when it is completed it is expected to attract scores more visitors  through the doors of the popular attraction. 

It is set to open in the autumn.