'Arson attack' destroys former Wednesfield High School building
[gallery] A Wolverhampton school building went up in flames in a suspected arson attack tackled by 20 firefighters.
Fire crews were called to Wednesfield High School at 6.15pm yesterday following reports of smoke coming from a disused building on Lakefield Road.
Within minutes a plume of thick black smoke could be seen up to three miles away.
Police closed off Lakefield Road between March End Road and Lichfield Road as five fire engines tackled the blaze.
The blaze is thought to have been started in a hall in the old school building but fire crews were able to prevent it spreading throughout the rest of the building.
It is believed the fire was started deliberately and a police investigation is under way.
Nigel Sowden, group commander at West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service, said: "The fire was contained to a hall and we restricted it there preventing it from spreading to the empty classrooms.
"At this moment in time we believe it was arson and we will be investigating this further. "
Up to 50 people were watching the fire and crews had to lock a gate to the school to prevent gathering children from going inside.
Maria Potts, a governor at the school between 2007 and 2011, said she saw smoke from her house on March End Road.
"At first I thought it was a house fire but as I walked my dog closer and I saw it was coming from the school," she said.
