Wolverhampton's West Park shelter destroyed in suspected arson attack

The South shelter, which sits close to the South entrance of the park, has been reduced to an ashen skeleton, with the council setting up a temporary fence before work to permanently remove the remaining structure takes place.

Labour councillor Craig Collingswood, of Park ward, said: "It's such a shame that this has happened.

"The fire crews have said they suspect arson and this is just another example of idiots deciding to ruin something so special and important in this city.

"West Park is a significant part of my ward and when I talk to people about it I say it's like a jewel in the crown of the city. It's such a wonderful venue and got so many historical things within it. Then these idiots come along and take it away.

"As a council we are investing so much money in making this city a place people want to visit and spend time in but things like this just undermine it."

This latest act of vandalism, which happened at around 1am on Sunday, follows a spate of similar acts that saw the park's historic conservatory windows smashed in 2015.

A total of 12 windows were broken during the attack in July last year, which left shattered glass strewn across the inside of the 119-year-old building.

The conservatory opened in 1896 and houses a large collection of plants and foliage from all over the world, as well as a pond containing exotic fish.

It is visited by thousands of people every year and is considered by many to be one of the city's finest examples of Victorian architecture.

In 2014, hundreds of plants were stolen from the park throughout the summer, leaving the flower beds bare.

Signs were put up along the flower beds alerting people that the thefts had been reported to the police and security was stepped up at the site.

Anyone with any information on the latest destruction of the South shelter is advised to contact West Midlands Police on 101 or contact councillor Collingswood directly via craig.collingswood@wolver hampton.gov.uk