Fire rips through former Stafford Rugby Club
Flames have ripped through Stafford's former rugby club.
Three fire crews and police officers were called to the scene off Newport Road in the Castlefields area at about 2.30pm today.
The fire could be seen coming through the roof of a building and plumes of smoke were blowing in the air. A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters from Stafford, Cannock and Penkridge are using hose-reel jets to tackle a blaze at a former rugby club in the Castlefields area of Stafford.
"They were called to the scene at 2.35pm today."
The cause of the fire is not yet known. A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Officers are currently at the scene of a fire at the old Stafford Rugby Club off Newport Road in Stafford.
"Police were called at 2.55pm this afternoon to reports of lots of smoke coming from the derelict building.
"Anyone with any information should message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter quoting incident number 379 of 8 September, call 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Stafford Rugby Club relocated from its ground near Newport Road to the new site at Blackberry Lane, near Doxey Marshes, after securing planning permission for the move in 2016.
Residents living near the new ground fought against the plans and even took their battle to the High Court.
Concerns raised included potential loss of open space on the Virginia Park estate for an access road and the siting of facilities on land affected by flooding.
