Forest fire damage hits £100k

A blaze which ripped through 50 acres of a forest in the Midlands caused damage estimated at £100,000, leaving many trees unsafe and needing to be felled, it emerged today.

Arsonists have been blamed for starting the blaze which burned for six days in Million Wood, between Enville and Kinver, near Stourbridge. Numerous trees will now have to be felled after they were deemed dangerous by forest managers the Enville Estate.

Estate manager Peter Williams today surveyed the scene and said insurers and investigators will be assessing the damage.

"It is a real shame this has happened but I have to thank all the firefighters who worked day and night to tackle the fire," he said.

"It was started deliberately, that's the worst thing. Luckily the rain came just in time help to put it out."

As it is a commercial land the wood is not open to the public. The blaze originally started on May 2.