Police in search for arsonists as fire-hit Telford pavilion targeted in attack

Around £70,000 had been spent on repairing the 1920s building in Wellington's Bowring Park after an accidental fire swept through the building in July 2012.

The Pavilion, which houses a snack bar and public toilets, had been due to reopen on Thursday but on Saturday night it went up again in what firefighters said appeared to be a deliberate blaze.

At one point all of Telford's fire crews were tied up on Saturday night.

The building, off Haygate Road, is owned by Telford & Wrekin Council and was on the verge of being handed over to Wellington Town Council.

Today Graham Riley, Mayor of Wellington, said: "I am absolutely gutted and I am sure the people of Wellington will be.

"It was to be opened on Thursday. Obviously those plans have been dashed because of blatant vandalism which has ruined something for the community.

"There are no words that can sum up just how I feel at the moment. This project has been more than 12 months in the planning with a lot of hard work gone into it. We had so been looking forward to it opening ."

Councillor Frank Burns, who lives a short walk from the park, said: "It was to have been open in time for the Easter holidays. It is so very sad that vandals can ruin something that is being built for them. I cannot believe that we are now going to have to start again."

Telford & Wrekin Council was forced to pay for the repairs after the last fire as although the building was insured it had a standard excess of £100,000.

Councillor Miles Hosken said: "I fear this may be true again. This is a dastardly deed. It was to have been a tremendous asset to Telford and I am sure it will be in the future but we will have to now assess the damage and see what repairs are needed. Those responsible for this and the other vandalism in Wellington need a short sharp shock to bring them to their senses."

Firefighters were alerted to the fire at 9.45pm on Saturday.

Incident commander Steve Moss, of Wellington Fire Station, said: "We received a call to say smoke was coming out of the roof of the toilet block.

"The building was under construction. When we arrived there were a small amount of flames coming through the roof."

Firefighters fought the flames from outside the building at first as they were concerned about the ceiling collapsing.

Guy Williams, operational officer at the blaze in Bowring Park, said at one time all crews in the Telford area were tied up on Saturday night.

"We had two crews at this incident for something caused by senseless vandalism.

"There were resources that may have been needed elsewhere."

Mr Williams said he felt for the people who had been working to ensure the building could reopen.

"Although it appears that the fire in the roof had been started from outside, we unfortunately had to break in to bring it under control and our fire fighting operations have also led to water damage inside.

"It is a shame that the work has been ruined after it had been rebuilt following the original fire 18 months ago."

"I would urge anyone who can help find out who did this to contact the police as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should call Telford police on 101.