'It's devastating for the community': Heartbreak as blaze destroys Wolverhampton gym

Smoke poured into the Wolverhampton night sky as Bushbury weights and fitness centre, Primrose Avenue, was ablaze for several hours, destroying the roof and thousands of pounds-worth of equipment.

The aftermath of the blaze revealed that the interior ground floor of the gym was severely damaged, covered in a thick layer of ash. Cables hung from what was left of the ceiling and rubble was strewn all over the blackened ground.

The owners of the gym, who wished not to be named, said that the gym had been a 'community hub' for youngsters taking part in classes, with the gym well-known for its boxing facilities.

The owners estimate they spent around £100,000 on the gym, including all the equipment, machines, boxing ring and other facilities that have now been partly if not wholly destroyed by the flames.

"It's still pretty raw to be honest with you" they said.

A mother of a 13-year-old boy who attended the gym for three years, taking part in regular boxing lessons, said: "It's heartbreaking, to be honest, it really is.

"This is devastating for the community. Parents would send their kids here, as an outlet for them, to do the boxing, come home and go to bed, it really did help a lot of parents and young people out."

Eight crews were tackling the fire at its peak, according to Fallings Park Fire, who tweeted at 12.30am to say good progress was being made.

They advised nearby residents to keep their windows closed as smoke continued to flow from the gym.

Arthur Wilde, who lives opposite the gym on Primrose Avenue said: "We arrived back home at around 11.30pm and saw the flames, the smoke, the fire crews.

"It's not the first fire we've had around here though, we've had a couple of cars set fire to around the back of the flats."

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous said she alerted the fire service to the flames. "It was just so fierce.

"I got on the phone straight away.

"It's such a shame, the people who own and run it are so lovely, we've never had any trouble from them ever, and we've lived here for 40 years. It really is a terrible shame."

Firefighters from Fallings Park and Wolverhampton were battling the blaze within five minutes of being called at around 11.15pm. They were soon joined by crews from Willenhall and Bloxwich.

By midnight, the gym's roof had collapsed and flames could be seen rising from the space where the ceiling used to be.

By 1.30am just three fire engines remained as firefighters continued to pour water into the building from a hydraulic platform.

It is not yet known what started the blaze. An investigation into the cause began on Sunday afternoon.