Fire hits former tyre garage

Arsonists set fire to a derelict tyre garage in the Black Country, resulting in a main road being sealed off and a man taken to hospital.

The blaze was started in the former Larry's Industrial Tyres building in Wolverhampton Road, Wednesfield.

A man believed to have been squatting in the building was taken to nearby New Cross Hospital with smoke inhalation. The arsonists struck at 8 last night.

The road was cordoned off today while structural engineers assessed the damage.

Large sections of the garage's tiled roof were destroyed by the flames.

Today, group commander Ben Diamond said: "The elderly gentleman inside was taken to hospital by paramedics."

Dwayne Street, aged 31, of Bull Street, Darlaston, said: "I was in KFC having something to eat and could see the smoke. When I got there the paramedics were taking a man in a wheelchair over to the hospital."