A historic sporting club recently put up for sale has been left badly damaged after an arson attack.

Stourbridge War Memorial Club in High Street, Amblecote was went up in flames on Saturday May 24 - which left firefighters tackling the blaze for several hours.

The club was founded in 1921 for ex-servicemen and closed its doors in 2002 due to lack of bookings and rumours of financial trouble.

Since then the site has become run down and a target for vandals with the clubhouse being trashed and rubbish being dumped.

Amblecote History Society have written to the owner of the land on numerous occasions about the place being a health hazard but have had no response so they decided to take matters into their own hands and clear it up.

Stourbridge Football Club and Amblecote History Society have also tried to get the bowling green re-established with the football club being willing to look after it.

Deputy Mayor of Dudley and Amblecote ward councillor Pat Martin said: "I am not at all surprised that there has been another fire at this site, it is surprising it has not happened sooner.

"It has been neglected for so long that people thought it to be abandoned.

"It is considered to be a highly sensitive location of local significance.

"An approach to English Heritage is also to be considered to preserve the whole site as well as the Canals Conservation Area Character Appraisals committee.

"I with others will do everything I can to preserve it."