Embers link to barn blaze

Burning embers in an open fire pit caused a blaze which destroyed a replica Saxon Hall at an environmental centre near Stourport, experts say.

The embers are thought to have broken up the clay pit and charred timbers beneath the structure causing a fire to break out in the building at Bishops Wood Environmental Centre at Crossway Green yesterday.

The Hall, a barn-like structure, was used by thousands of schoolchildren for role-play and studies.