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Fire in derelict church thought to be arson

Tanya Gupta
BBC News, West Midlands
Google A boarded up church building stands on the corner of Hamstead Road. There are cars on the road, and there are shrubs and trees planted around the church. The building has a steep pointed roof and drainpipes on the sides.Google
Fire broke out over several floors of a derelict church in Hamstead Road, Great Barr, the fire service said (generic photograph)

A fire in a derelict church was believed to have been started deliberately, after youths were seen leaving the area, firefighters said.

The blaze broke out over the first, second and third floors of the empty building and six fire engines were sent to the church in Hamstead Road, Great Barr, just before 18:25 BST.

Police were told the fire was believed to have been started deliberately, a spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said.

She added that the youths were seen leaving just before crews arrived. Firefighters stayed at the scene until about 21:00 BST, to make sure it was out.

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