A BLAZE at a Dudley community centre left young people short of sports equipment which will cost thousands to replace.

A severe fire broke out at St Thomas's Network community centre in the early hours of August 13 in a mobile-type building.

The blaze, which was started deliberately, destroyed the structure which was home to the youth club at the Kates Hill centre.

The cabin also contained equipment including table tennis tables and bikes which were all lost to the flames although luckily a number of computers had recently been moved out.

St Thomas's Network chairman of trustees, Steve Waltho, said: "We look upon this as just another blow, we have had a number of minor incidents but this is devastation - it could have been the main building.

"I can only think it was disaffected people with nothing to do, at that time of night I wonder what state of mind they were in.

"This was an attack on the whole community, that is what I don't understand. The people who did this have no idea of the value of the network, it has had national recognition for the work it does."

The Beechwood Road centre provides a variety of community services for up to 300 people each day, raging from nursery care and education to sports and recreation and even a furniture shop for residents of all ages in the most deprived ward in the borough.

Mr Waltho, who is also a member of Dudley Council for the St Thomas's ward, said: "We have to look for positives, no-one was hurt and the fire did not spread to the doctors' surgery or homes nearby."

He added the network will now be working to replace the equipment lost in the blaze, anyone who can help is asked to call St Thomas's on 01384 818990.