Fire tore through an Wimbledon Park athletics stadium in a suspected arson attack this morning.
Part of the ground floor of the building was damaged and a forensic investigation is underway to determine how the fire started.
A police officer at the scene said: “We are unsure of the exact cause of the fire but we do believe that someone tried to burn down one of the buildings.”
Tom Pollack of Hercules Wimbledon athletics club said: “The track is closed and there will be no training this week or next.
“It is speculation that that kids came over the fence from the golf course and that the fire was started by fireworks.
“The whole building is concrete which would make it hard to burn down.
“The only thing in the area that was flammable was landing beds for the pole vault.”
The blaze was spotted by a member of the grounds staff who was arriving for work – the fire brigade was called at 8:31am and the fire was under control at 9:55am.
Four fire engines and 21 fire-fighters and officers from Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Tooting fire stations attended the scene.
Image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks
