Shropshire Star

Sports field building destroyed in Newport arson attack

[gallery] A huge blaze destroyed disused changing rooms on a sports field in Shropshire.

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The huge blaze in Audley Avenue, on sports fields earmarked for housing, could be seen for miles as 30ft flames lit up the night sky and plumes of smoke billowed up even higher.

The aftermath of the fire in Newport

Fire crews battled the blaze from 11pm until 2am when all that was left was the bare bones of the wooden frame.

A fire investigation officer and police were at the scene and the blaze is being treated as a suspected arson.

Fire fighters were today revisiting the wreckage to check for hot spots and look further into the cause.

Gavin Dickson who runs Lyric Weddings in Newport was driving along the A41 when he spotted smoke and grabbed his camera to capture the dramatic scene.

"I was driving back from my parents house in Lichfield along the A41 coming into Newport and I could see a huge plume of smoke and an orange glow," said the 40-year-old.

"As I got closer I could see the flames were 20 to 30 feet high. And as I approached I could really feel the heat coming off it. The fire crews arrived and started using the hose.

"There were about half a dozen people standing around looking at what was happening. One of them told me it was an old football changing room that wasn't used anymore.

"It was quite dramatic hearing the crackling of the fire and feeling the heat and watching the emergency services going about their job."

Station manager Adam Matthews, who lives in Newport, was one of the retained fire crew called out to the scene last night.

He said: "Years ago it used to be a changing room, it's on a couple of old football fields.

Fire crews at the scene in Audley Avenue, Newport. Photo: Wellington Station @SFRSWellington

"It's disused now and the fields are earmarked for housing.

"It was a wooden building of about 15m by 5m fully involved in fire. I could see flames and smoke as we approached.

"A fire engine from Newport and another from Wellington attended with a fire officer.

"We used three main jets to extinguish the fire and left the scene at about 2am.

"A fire investigation officer and the police also attended and the cause is being treated as arson.

"Crews from Newport will be going back today for inspection to check for any hot spots."

St Modwen Properties has planning permission for 215 houses on the site next to Shukers Field.

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