The fire left the centre severely damaged, but work has gone in to getting the centre back up and running

placeholder image — The fire left the centre severely damaged, but work has gone in to getting the centre back up and running

A fundraiser set up to help rebuild a community centre wrecked by a "deliberate" fire has raised more than £2,400 just 24 hours after the devasating blaze.

The blaze at Fens Pool Community Centre yesterday morning (August 19) resulted in a gaping hole in the roof and severe smoke damage to the single-storey brick building in Pensnett, near Brierley Hill.

The fire left a hole in the building's roof. Pictured surveying the damage are vice chair Tracey Bowen and chair Rebecca Spittle. Photo: Tim Sturgess

Firefighters arrived soon after 4.30am following reports of flames and smoke at the site, which was due to host a summer fun fair later in the day.

Devastated event organisers and residents rushed to the scene as the drama unfolded, but could only watch on as fire crews tackled the flames at the activity hub. The West Midlands Fire Service later said the blaze is believed to have been started deliberately.

Firefighters clean up after the fire at the Fens Pool Community Centre. Photo: Tim Sturgess

Now a fundraiser has been set up by supporters of the community centre to raise money for the rebuilding effort, with the aim of "helping put a smile back on faces". It has already raised more than £2,400.

The organiser of the fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform, set up on Tuesday, said: "We are absolutely devastated to announce that we have today had our beloved community centre set alight, along with that went three years of hard work and dedication which has gone up in smoke.

"We are looking to get this centre modernised and rebuilt and hopefully in doing so it will rebuild community spirit.

The clean-up operation at Fens Pool Community Centre. Photo: Tim Sturgess

"We are absolutely devastated, firefighters have said this could be an act of arson. We feel hopeless and need as much support as possible - we don’t want to let this centre go because of how much hard work has gone into building our community centre up.

"Every single penny will help put a smile back on all of the children, adults, and members faces that use this centre and join us for all of the activities we try and do together."

Read more and donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/reconstruction-of-fenspool-cc.

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