Boy quizzed over scrapyard fire

A large number of cylinders exploded

An 11-year-old boy has been arrested by police following a major fire at a complex of scrapyards in Wolverhampton.

About 100 firefighters from across the West Midlands attended the scene at Brook Terrace, in Bilston, after thousands of tyres caught fire just after 1730 BST on Wednesday.

A large number of cylinders on the site also exploded in the flames.

Five out of the seven scrapyards at the site were severely damaged and machinery along with hundreds of cars and thousands of tyres were destroyed.

A police helicopter, which attended the scene, was attacked by a group of youths who pelted it with bricks and stones.

'Difficult conditions'

West Midlands Police confirmed youths threw "items" at a helicopter which was assisting the emergency services.

Fire investigators believe youths started the blaze by setting fire to illegally dumped industrial waste at the entrance to the scrapyards.

Firefighters say they could be at the scene of the fire for another four days clearing the site.

The Midland Metro Line, which runs near the site, was stopped and the nearby Morrisons supermarket was evacuated as a precaution.

West Midlands Fire Service station commander Paul Thomason said firefighters battled to stop the fire from spreading to the petrol station at the supermarket.

He said: "There are some very, very difficult conditions for firefighters. Conditions underfoot make it hazardous for firefighters but they are doing an exceptional job."