People living near to a burnt out former church in Wednesbury have started a petition to get it pulled down.

The former Methodist Church in Ridding Lane was set on fire on Sunday night, but residents say that the blaze is the latest in almost a decade of problems.

The roof was removed on the building around three years ago and rubbish, which had collected at the back of the building, had to be removed after it started attracting rats and foxes.

Councillor Mavis Hughes is now organising a petition amongst the residents in a bid to get something done.

She said: “We have put in countless petitions on this, it’s an absolute eyesore, this fire is the last straw, we want something done.“

There was a huge problem with rats which were living in piles of rubbish out the back. We put in a petition about that and they cleared it up.”