'Devastation': Community hub targeted by 'petrol bomb' arsonists months after last fire attack
The operators of a community hub in Dudley have spoken of their devastation after the centre was set alight with a petrol bomb.
The Helping Hands Hub on Griffin Street in Netherton was set alight shortly before 11.35pm on Saturday, leaving the inside of the building with no ceiling and the interior completely blackened.
Operators of the hub say CCTV footage obtained by police shows two men climbing onto the roof, removing tiles, and launching a petrol bomb through the ceiling.
This is the second arson attack the building has suffered within six months, after another fire believed to have been deliberately started occurred in January, when a dance company was leasing out the building.
The building is now leased out by the community hub, which is run by three companies who offer community services such as baby and toddler classes and gatherings for the elderly.
Sadly, all of these services have been forced to temporarily stop.
Charlotte Hamilton owns Lott's Fairtytale Tots, a storytelling playgroup for toddlers which takes place in the centre, and is one of the companies which helps to run the hub.
The 32-year-old told the Express & Star: "We're absolutely devastated. It's horrible. We have no ceiling, it's all fallen down.
"We were so excited to get the community hub running. We've been in the building since April and established the hub when we moved in.
