Fire at Stafford's Westway pub started deliberately
A fire at a disused pub in Stafford was started deliberately – taking place just hours after complaints about anti-social behaviour at the site, it has emerged.
The blaze at The Westway pub, Highfields, was started just before 7pm on Monday and around 40 firefighters were called to tackle it.
Officers have since revealed they responded to anti-social behaviour near to the former pub just after 4.20pm that day.
A joint investigation has now been launched.
Police had attended the pub and found no-one at the premises but the site was insecure.
The company responsible for the premises was then notified and arrived around 6.45pm to secure the site.
However, police were called back to the pub due to further anti-social behaviour and found the derelict venue on fire.
Emergency crews worked throughout the night to control the fire, with nearby residents being evacuated and surrounding roads closed.
Police forensic investigators have worked with colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to examine the remains of the building and this investigative work established the fire was caused deliberately.
At the height of the blaze, nine crews from Stafford, Gnosall, Penkridge, Stone, Eccleshall, Rugeley, Rising Brook, Longton and Lichfield were called in, with officers describing it as a 'large-scale incident'.
The final firefighters left the scene 22 hours after the blaze started, in which the roof of the once popular pub collapsed and the fire spread throughout the two floors of the building.
The pub is situated in the middle of a housing estate and neighbours closest to the scene were evacuated from their homes and surrounding roads were closed.
Yesterday, officers remained at the pub to dampen down the site.
Group manager Brian Griffiths from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue described the fire as 'severe' and said it had 'completely destroyed the building'.
The pub had closed two years ago after more than 50 years' service. It came just two years after a successful campaign by nearby residents to save it from closure.
An investigation is ongoing and police want to hear from anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area prior to the fire.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dc Rob Booth at Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident 480 of December 7.
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
