Fire wrecks children's play centre

Fire wrecked a children's play centre in the Black Country today, throwing flames up to 20 foot in the air after a suspected arson attack.

A coach parked next to the Funtasia Football Academy and Family Centre in Dudley was also destroyed along with the ball pit, cafe and play equipment.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures.

The owner of the centre in Bath Street, who declined to give her name, today said: "My life has just gone up in smoke."

Firefighters from Dudley, Brierley Hill, Cradley Heath, Tipton, Bilston and Wednesbury were called to the scene shortly after 5.15am today. An aerial tender was also called in.

When they arrived the blaze had already spread through the entire building as well as the coach parked in the alleyway.

Roads around the centre were closed to traffic during the drama.

Commander Paul Clark said the fire had been referred to police as a possible arson attack. The Fire Investigation Unit was also alerted. "The building is completed gutted inside," he said.

"When we arrived the fire was already fully under way both in the coach and in the building.

"We had the area surrounded fairly quickly but due to the extent of the fire and risk of collapse we were not able to go inside," Mr Clark added.

"Structural engineers were called to determine whether it was safe."

Windows alongside the building, measuring 322 square feet, were shattered and the roof left unstable by the flames. The fire was fully out by 7.30am.

Today's blaze is the latest huge fire to hit the region.

On Thursday last week Magnet Trade in Wolverhampton was gutted, wrecking thousands of pounds of stock.

Just hours later Imperial Snacks in Heath Town went up in flames following an explosion.