Yobs cause £350k damage in quarry arson attack

Bosses at WCL Quarries today said they were 'gutted' at the devastation caused at Cranebrook Quarry, on the A5 between Brownhills and Muckley Corner in Lichfield.

The culprits broke in through barbed wire surrounding the site and despite it being dark, they managed to climb down sandy banks and a mountain of concrete dust to get to the bottom of the quarry to where machinery was being kept.

Three large screeners, which are around 50ft long and used to recycle material, were set on fire.

Two pieces of the equipment have been severely damaged by fire and another one was partly affected and is also currently out of use.

WCL Quarries has operated from the site since 2006 specialising in recycling building materials and manufacturing red sand.

Bosses today slammed those responsible, saying they were 'irresponsible people' with 'very poor morals'.

Head of operations Mark Deadman said: "I am gutted about it. We are quite proud of the condition we keep the kit in. This is just damage, pure damage.

"For somebody to come into the quarry in the middle of the night is just ludicrous, it beggars belief. They are irresponsible people with very poor morals. It is just mindless vandalism. We will certainly come back from this and we open for business as normal. If anyone knows anything call the police before someone else suffers the same consequence."

But bosses said the arsonists had managed to evade the firm's security cameras.

Firefighters from Lichfield tackled the blaze after they were called out at around 2.45am yesterday when flames were seen coming from the quarry.

Staffordshire Police confirmed the attack was deliberate and that they have launched an investigation. To help call police on 101.