DUDLEY Wood councillors are calling for action after a former manor house was set on fire by vandals – just days after Dudley Council announced it had been sold.

Dubbed a “jewel in the crown”, the 150-year-old Saltwells House, which was built by the Earl of Dudley in the mid 1800s, has succumbed to vandals since shutting in 2001.

Having been left to go to rack and ruin, the house on the outskirts of Saltwells Nature Reserve has been subjected to countless attacks by youngsters smashing windows, lighting fires and spraying graffiti on the walls.

The latest attack happened just after 6.15pm on Sunday, when firefighters were called to a blaze in the roof of the landmark building.

It took two hours for crews to tackle the blaze as flames spread to other parts of the building.

The fire comes just days after Dudley Council announced the building had finally been sold to a joint venture company partnership called PSP Dudley, in which the council has a 50 per cent stake, with the aim to regenerate the building sympathetically with the area.

But no specific details surrounding the regeneration have been released, leading ward councillors and the Saltwells Nature Reserve Action Group to claim they have not been kept informed of any developments.

And they fear any possible residential use would threaten the borough’s largest nature reserve.

Councillor Bryan Cotterill said: “The support group strongly feel they have been strung along by Dudley Council – we have not been kept in the loop.”

The councillors also urged the council to take immediate action and secure the house, which they say has become a “deathtrap”.

Councillor David Sparks said: “The nature reserve is highly used by residents, especially the local community. It has been called a jewel in the crown but the council has let it to fall into disrepair.”

He added: “It reminds me of something out of the film Gone with the Wind – it is like the plantation mansion which has been devastated.

“This attractive building has been allowed to develop into a deathtrap and it needs to be demolished or refurbished without further delay.

“Our fear, given the council’s record, is that it will be just left to rot and will become a further magnet for vandals.

“They say they have secured the building with steel shutters but this fire demonstrates this is inadequate”

Mr Cotterill said: “We are tired of telling Dudley Council about the potential dangers of this building.

Are they just waiting for a fatality to happen before they take action?”

A council spokesman said: “We are saddened there has been a fire at Saltwells House over the weekend.

We are currently establishing the extent of the damage.

“The building is now owned by PSP Dudley, who will continue to secure the site.

“Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity at the site should call the police on 0845 113 5000.”

Anyone interested in joining the Saltwells Nature Reserve Action Group in working to protect the reserve can call Mr Cotterill on 01384 257136.