Blaze destroys derelict Blackheath school

More than 40 firefighters and eight fire trucks attended the scene in Holt Road, the site of the former Holt Farm Primary School.

The roof of part of the 105-year-old building was destroyed by the blaze, which took more than two hours to extinguish. Flames and huge plumes of black smoke were visible for miles around the scene.

Initially crews from Smethwick attended the scene after the fire was reported at around 4.10pm on Saturday but when they saw the scale of the fire they called for back up and were joined by additional crews from Dudley, Highgate, Oldbury, Tipton, Ladywood and Haden Cross.

Holt Road was sealed off at both ends for four hours while West Midlands Fire Service attempted to secure the area.

Fire investigators were also at the scene trying to determine the cause of the fire.

At one stage firefighters used a large rig to help them push over a large gable wall in order to quell the flames and make the area safe. Workers from National Grid were also on site to make sure the power supply to homes and local businesses remained secure.

Crowds of onlookers gathered at the scene, while many residents expressed their shock at the blaze.

The school has been boarded up since it closed in 2006 and has been a regular target for vandals in recent years.

Alan Green, aged 75, who lives opposite the school, said: "I came out of my house and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The flames were spread across the building and you could tell it was going to cause serious damage.

"It is a real shame because it was a beautiful old building. We have had people messing around over there, which is what happens when you leave a place empty for so many years."

Firefighter Jennifer Bird, of Smethwick Fire Station, said the fire was 'large scale'. She added: "At the moment it is too early to say how the fire started."

No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.