Arson dismay at West Bromwich golf cub

A West Bromwich golf club celebrating its centenary year has lost its clubhouse in an arson attack.

Firefighters from eight stations around the region were called out to tackle the severe blaze at the privately-owned Dartmouth Golf Club last night.

The changing and locker rooms of the Vale Street clubhouse were completely destroyed and the rest of the building badly smoke-logged.

The cost of the damage is not yet known but is expected to run into tens of thousands of pounds. Around 100 golf clubs were destroyed, along with kit and other equipment belonging to the 200 members of the club.

Dave Rogers, a 46-year-old charity worker from Hollies Drive, Wednesbury, who is membership secretary of the club, said: "The most devastating thing is that this is our centenary year.

"Thankfully no-one was hurt but it's just totally devastating. I was called at 1am by the security company and came down to see fire crews tackling the blaze."

West Bromwich watch commander Phil Richards said the 999 call came in at 11.30pm and crews worked throughout the night."The fire was intense," he said today.

"It was really severe and when we arrived it was going well. It was arson. The fire was started near a vent underthe building."

Crews from West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Handsworth, Cradley Heath, Tipton, Smethwick, Walsall and Willenhall attended.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The fire was started in suspicious circumstances."

By Elizabeth Joyce and Lucy Townsend