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Tamworth hospital: Suspect, 43, held over George Bryan Centre fire | Tamworth hospital: Suspect, 43, held over George Bryan Centre fire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze broke out at a mental health centre in Staffordshire. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze broke out at a mental health centre in Staffordshire. |
The 43-year-old, from Tamworth, was detained over the fire at the George Bryan centre near the Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in the town. | The 43-year-old, from Tamworth, was detained over the fire at the George Bryan centre near the Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital in the town. |
There were no reports of casualties in the fire, which broke out at about 20:50 GMT on Monday. | There were no reports of casualties in the fire, which broke out at about 20:50 GMT on Monday. |
Staffordshire Police said all occupants and staff were evacuated from the centre. | |
Eighteen patients were on the west wing unit, which cares for adults who are acutely mentally ill, at the time of the blaze and have been moved to alternative locations. | |
A spokesman from Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), which runs the centre, said the east wing remained occupied but this was subject to an "ongoing review". | |
Chief executive Neil Carr said it was "a traumatic and distressing event" and the trust would "ensure that all those affected receive whatever help and care they need". | |
One patient absconded during the commotion caused by the blaze but was found soon afterwards, a police spokesman told the BBC. | One patient absconded during the commotion caused by the blaze but was found soon afterwards, a police spokesman told the BBC. |
The fire service said about 20 people were evacuated from the centre, in Plantation Lane, Mile Oak. | |
A Staffordshire fire service spokesman said "quite a lot of the building" had been involved in the blaze and an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the fire. | |
Ten crews from Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire fire services were deployed. | Ten crews from Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire fire services were deployed. |
Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene for "some time" damping down and checking for hot spots. | |
Witness Bradley Stokes said the blaze could be seen from Tamworth town centre and he had "never seen anything like this before". | |
Christopher Pincher, the Conservative MP for Tamworth, tweeted that he was "very concerned" by the fire. | Christopher Pincher, the Conservative MP for Tamworth, tweeted that he was "very concerned" by the fire. |
The centre shares a site with the community hospital, although the two buildings are not connected. | The centre shares a site with the community hospital, although the two buildings are not connected. |
The community hospital is open as normal on Tuesday, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said. | The community hospital is open as normal on Tuesday, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |