Blaze club was warned

Arsonists set fire to a derelict Cannock social club six weeks after firefighters warned that it was a fire risk.

Cannock firefighters were called out West Cannock Sports and Social Club twice after firebugs broke into the building in Bradbury Lane, Pye Green.

Two fire crews from Cannock were called to the club, known locally as the Fives, just after 8pm. Arsonists set two fires, one in the main hall of the club, which is in administration, and one in the attic space.

The attic fire quickly took hold and spread into the roof and floor and needed four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus to bring it under control.

Less than an hour after leaving the scene, the firefighters were forced to return to the club at 10.15pm, when the firebugs set yet another fire in the roof space causing a hole in the roof.

The Express & Star spoke to Darren Dagless, crew manager from Cannock, at the scene of the blaze last night.

He said: "When we arrived we discovered a developed fire on the first floor and a smaller fire on the ground floor.

"It was a dangerous situation, as the fire was in the roof space there was the risk of falling timber."

Crew manager Dave Smith from Cannock, who visited the club on August 16, added: "We asked for it to be secured to stop this sort of thing."

Environment protection manager at Cannock Chase Council, Karen Sulway, said: "When we received the warning from the fire service we reacted immediately and contacted the administrators to request the club be boarded up.

"The council carried out emergency work last Thursday to secure fire doors and have spoken to the administrators this week to request more work be undertaken."