Arson attack causes 'devastating' damage to club
8 minutes ago
Grace Shaw
Yorkshire
A fire started deliberately has caused "devastating" damage to a sports and social club, its committee has said.
Walton Sports and Social Club's lounge and tap room were destroyed by the blaze on Friday. No one was hurt in the fire.
The committee, which has run the club on Shay Lane, Wakefield, since it opened as a miners' welfare in the 1960s, said a crowdfunder had already been launched and they were overwhelmed with the response.
Det Insp Steve Sayles, of West Yorkshire Police, said it was a deliberately targeted attack and could have been "significantly worse". The force has released CCTV images of a man it wants to speak to as part of its investigation.
The club said trophies and memorabilia dating back to the 1960s, immediately above where the fire was started, were also damaged.
"Sadly, the damage to our lounge area is extensive," a Facebook post said.
"The number of people who have rallied around us, turned up to help and got stuck in clearing away the debris has been incredible," it said.
Facilities for the sports club's football and rugby teams were "thankfully" undamaged but their presentation evenings and other events would have to be moved, it said, along with other groups who use the lounge space.
West Yorkshire Police said the fire was started by a man who arrived on a bike at 03:40 GMT on Friday 6 November and said he also visited for a "recce" at about 01:40.
The force is appealing for additional CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the area from between 01:00 until 04:00. Officers said they were also keen to speak to residents near the path between Shay Lane and the golf club.
"We've been at the heart of the community for generations," said the club.
"People's fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers worked in the mine nearby when we were a miners' welfare and now their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren play in the football and rugby teams or come to our community events.
"Everyone in the village is involved with the club in some way throughout the year - it's right at the heart of the community."
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