Alert over spate of Willenhall arson attacks

The latest attack saw two cars set alight earlier this week. The fire spread to a carpet shop where it could have destroyed the business, according to firefighters.

Watch commander Andy Morgan, based at Willenhall fire station, said: "We have got an arsonist in Willenhall, and the public should remain vigilant. I don't want people to be alarmed but just to be alert."

Mr Morgan said that in the past month, there have been six arson incidents within 500 yards of each other near Doctor's Piece.

One involved a skip being set on fire, while cardboard boxes were set alight at a plastics firm. Mr Morgan added: "They have been minor incidents but arsonists tend to start small and go bigger."

The fire service was working with the police to catch the person responsible for the fires, he said. The car fires on Wednesday saw crews from Willenhall and Bilston called to Direct Carpets, to where the blaze had spread, at 1.15am.

Firefighters spent two hours fighting the fire, which left the carpet business with damage to five per cent of the premises.

Mr Morgan added: "Another 10 or 15 minutes, and the carpets could have caught alight, and then it would have taken the whole building. They're still able to do business but smoke can cause a lot of damage."

West Midlands Police confirmed that the fire was being treated as arson and asked any witnesses to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Insp Dave Whordley, of Walsall police, said several suspicious fires in Willenhall had been reported in the last four weeks but he was unsure whether one person was behind the attacks:

"We are keeping an open mind as our inquiries continue," he said.