Three fires in just 24 hours

Fire has ripped through three empty buildings in Shropshire in 24 hours, including a derelict hotel.

More than 60 firefighters from stations across the county were drafted in to tackle the blazes – two of which are being treated as suspicious.

Fire chiefs said crews were stretched to the limit dealing with the fires at the derelict Lea Manor Hotel, in Albrighton, and the former Madeley Court Sports Centre, in Telford, today.

Crews were also called to a blaze at the Coddon Sports and Social Club in Donnington, Telford, yesterday.

The two Telford fires are being treated as arson while the cause of the hotel blaze is still being investigated.

Andy Johnson, for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said arson attacks were affecting resources and lengthening call-out times to other emergencies.

He said it is believed the buildings were targeted because they were sitting empty.

He said: "We have a limited number of officers in Shropshire and it stretched our resources from a frontline point of view and a command control point of view.

"Because all of our resources are going to these incidents there is going to be some knock-on effect for the response times for other incidents."

Anyone who has information about any of the incidents is asked to call police on 101.

See also:

• Fire rips through Albrighton’s Lea Manor Hotel