'We are utterly devastated' Care staff shock as offices gutted in Wednesfield arson attack

Equipment used by workers and the records of thousands of people being cared for were destroyed as flames tore through the Charter Care office.

Carers gathered at the ruined building, in Linthouse Lane, which was used by 80 members of staff, including carers and administrative workers.

Carer Helen Barrett, 52, of Wolverhampton, who has worked for the company six years, said everyone was still in shock over what had happened.

"No-one could believe it when we first heard about the attack," she said. "All of our equipment was in the building along with the records and medical information of the people we care for.

"We are just thankful no-one was hurt.

"The loss of the building is a real blow. Although the care work takes place in the community having a base is vital for the co-ordination of the service and for the storing of equipment.

"We will support the managers in whatever way we can. At the moment it is difficult to see where we can go from here but we are all determined to do so."

She said although the building was insured, staff were also planning to hold fundraising events to help get the site re-built.

"We will do anything we can. Charity events, car boot sales and everything else we can think of.

"Everyone is determined to keep the service running but it is going to be hard work. We will do the very best we can.

"We are utterly devastated by what has happened. It is hard to believe anyone would do something like this."

Staff urged anyone with information about who had started the fire to contact the authorities at the earliest opportunity.

Mrs Barrett said: "It is vitally important the people who did this are caught."

Fellow carer Amy Cook, 25, of Bloxwich, said: "It's a terrible situation. Carers who are training have lost all of the NVQ course work.

"I am training in medication myself at the moment and this has been cancelled for the time being. I am not sure what is happening at the moment."

Officials from the company have said services to clients would not be affected by the blaze.

They will keep a track of the work being done despite computerised schedules being destroyed in the fire.

Services are now being run from the company's office in Oldbury but officials have said the Wednesfield office had been the main base of operations.

Medical records, staff checks, invoices, risk assessment sheets and various other crucial documents were destroyed in the blaze.

Officials said nothing had been salvageable and the building itself would have to be knocked down.

The fire was started during the early hours of Sunday morning with 35 firefighters battling the blaze at its height.

The blaze took place just days after arsonists attacked St Albans Primary School, located just under a mile away on St Albans Close.