Huge fire destroys Walsall factory

A huge blaze destroyed an historic former Walsall leatherworks in a suspected arson attack that closed roads, stopped trains and brought a town centre to a standstill.

Flames engulfed the landmark Boak Building, sending plumes of acrid smoke into the sky.

• Click on the image to the right for photos

Eighty firefighters tackled flames at the height of the blaze at the derelict Grade II-listed building, in Station Street, which is close to a petrol station.

Roads around the building, which dates back to around 1903, remained closed off this morning amid fears it could collapse completely.

Walsall council leader Mike Bird said 40 per cent of the building had already collapsed. The fire broke out at around 10.30pm last night, with crews from across the Black Country working throughout the night to bring it under control.

The nearby train line was closed for a short period today, affecting only freight trains, while cars were cleared from the railway station car park, which remains shut.

Bridgeman Street, Station Street and Queen Street were all closed today, with vehicles and pedestrians were unable to access Station Street from Bridgeman Street, Long Street and Brook Street. Wayne Green, from Walsall Fire Station, said: "There wasn't much we could do to stop the fire.

"We had to let it burn out and protect the surrounding buildings. We had to protect the petrol station on the corner of Navigation Street and Bridgeman Street and Intercoat Paints, opposite the building because it contained lots of chemicals.

"There were embers flying off the building the size of golf balls and one set a bush on fire, which we dealt with straight away."

West Midlands Police today said they were treating the fire as suspicious. The exact cause is not yet known and investigations are continuing.

The fire was extinguished by around 5am but part of the roof had collapsed. Emergency services were today working on making the building safe.

Leanne Spinks, aged 31, works at the nearby Savoy Garage at the corner of Bridgeman Street and Navigation Street.

The 31-year-old said: "We have been told it might be a couple of days before it is safe." Meanwhile, train users were assured passenger services were not affected today.

Mike Dalton, spokesman for London Midlands which operates Walsall train station, said: "None of our passenger services have been affected.

"The line was closed for a period during the early hours of this morning which affected freight traffic.

"But as far as we were concerned everything was back to normal by our first service at 5.40am, which means that passengers continued as normal."

• Do you have photos or video from the blaze? Send them to picturedesk@expressandstar.co.uk

By Harry Gottschalk