Youths sought over Wednesfield charity arson
Police are hunting three youths suspected of deliberately starting the £5,000 fire that wrecked a Compton Hospice shop, it was revealed today.
Two empty pallets were destroyed after being set alight at the store on Wednesfield High Street around 4.15am on August 16 and other stock had to be thrown away after being wrecked by smoke and water.
Officers have now confirmed it was started by arsonists.
Sergeant Jon Friedl, from Wolverhampton Police, disclosed: "This appears to have been a mindless arson. We believe three youths were in the area at the time the fire started but nobody has been identified at this stage.
"We would ask any witness or anyone with information about what happened to contact us and I also want to appeal directly to those responsible to come forward and take responsibility for their actions which have caused much grief and heartache to one of our local charities."
The arson attack comes three months after thieves tore lead from the roof of the Lymphoedema Treatment Centre at the hospice's Cedars site on Compton Road West, which treats around 200 adults per week.
They also took tools from sheds and catalytic converters from a fleet of shop delivery vans leaving the charity that survives on donations with a £20,000 repair bill.
Compton Hospice general manager Paul Carter said: "I cannot believe we have been ruthlessly targeted again. It is like taking two steps forward and three back all the time. To say I am frustrated would not really do it justice."
