The owner of a Black Country call centre completely wrecked in a suspicious blaze today has told how the business will now have to relocate.

Paul Shergill, who has owned Time Leisure Services in Wolverhampton for two years, said everything essential to the running of the directory inquiries-type service including computers had been ruined. Fire crews were called to the firm in Strawberry Lane, Wednesfield, at 12.30am today, just two hours after the late shift finished work.

Mr Shergill, aged 34, was alerted immediately as soon as the alarm went off and phoned all 25 staff members early today to tell them not to come in.

“There’s no way we can work in there now,” he said. “Everything’s been pretty much destroyed, our equipment, the servers, everything.

“I rang round the staff members this morning and left messages saying not to come in but some did and they were just devastated.”

Crews from Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Walsall attended the blaze.

Fallings Park crew commander Paul Lovell said it was being treated as suspicious after fire officers discovered traces of an accelerant.

He said: “We were called at 1am and left at around 4.15am. The police and fire investigators were taking over then.

“I’d say at least 30 per cent of the building has been destroyed. The main office is gutted.”

The building was today a blackened shell, with the roof and walls very badly damaged. Charred debris, including computers and office chairs were piled up outside.

Mr Shergill, of Wednesfield, said he was now contacting the landlord and his insurers to find a temporary new home.

He said: “It’s really early days so I’m not quite sure what the next step is.”

“We were still here working at 11.30pm last night so it’s quite a shock. Everything has changed in just a few hours.”

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000.