Blaze at timber yard

Arsonists are believed to have started a blaze at a Black Country timber yard which stopped train services overnight.

Masons Timber in Rose Hill, Willenhall, was completely devastated in the blaze, which is believed to have been started deliberately. It is the second time in two months fire crews have been called there.

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The building, next to the Walsall to Wolverhampton rail line collapsed as the blaze took hold, with debris scattered over the track.

Network Rail engineers had to turn off the 25,000 volt overhead lines so firefighters could use water jets to douse the 50ft flames and use a JCB to move the collapsed building. The line was reopened at 2.30am and trains were said to be running as normal.

Crew Commander Dave Foley, from Tipton Fire station, who was at the scene, said: "It was a bad fire, the building is flattened."

Restaurants and a nearby social club were told to close windows and doors in case of potential asbestos fumes, but firefighters said the risk to health was small.

It is the second time in recent months the building, which is no longer believed to be in use, has been targeted. On May 9 it was badly damaged by another blaze.

Smoke could be seen billowing across the surrounding roads and police had to shut off parts of Bilston Street and Rose Hill.