A COMMUNITY has been left heartbroken after arsonists targeted the High Acres Woodcraft Folk hut, burning it to the ground.

Bob Sandall and his family have been running the Kinver-based camp for more than 45 years, pouring thousands of pounds of their own money into its upkeep.

But their life’s work went up in smoke in the early hours of Tuesday morning (December 15) when vandals set fire to the popular hut and equipment container.

Chairs, tables, toys and more than £20,000 worth of specialist woodcraft and outdoor equipment has been left as nothing more than dust.

“It is heart-breaking,” Bob said. “I have put my heart and my soul into making the camp a success so obviously I am devastated by what has happened.

“The fire brigade came out early yesterday morning after reports of an explosion, but unfortunately they arrived too late.

“We took as many precautions as possible to stop this from ever happening, but we never thought someone could be so heartless as to do a thing like this.”

The charitable group regularly lays on a number of craft activities, games and camping and walking trips for youngsters.

Bob added: “Throughout the years we have had hundreds, maybe thousands, of children from across the area pass through, and even this last summer we had about 60 children here.

“We are in a very remote part of Kinver where insuring the hut would have cost us thousands of pounds, which we just could not afford.”

Staffordshire Police spokeswoman Hazel Dockery said the fire is believed to have been started deliberately and witnesses are urged to come forward.

She said: “We received a call from colleagues in the fire and rescue service at around 8.50am on Tuesday reporting a fire at a wooden catering building in the grounds of a house in Compton, Kinver.

“Anyone with any information is asked to ring 101 quoting incident 129 of 15 December.”

Since word of the blaze broke, the community has rallied to raise funds to help rebuild the camp and more than £2,000 was raised on an online funding site in less than 24 hours. Bob has also received an anonymous donation of £3,000.

Jon Bradley, who set up the online fundraising page, said: “I was a member of the Woodcraft Folk for many years and went on to become a leader.

“The campsite has made many happy memories for many people and all of my close friends have come from the group.

“The hut has provided shelter, warmth, and a fun place for hundreds of children from all backgrounds to play. Not only have we lost our hut but everything that was kept in it.

“We are hoping to raise £10,000 to start, but the total cost of replacing everything lost will be much more than that.”

To make a donation to help fund the hut’s rebuild, visit www.gofundme.com/woodcraftfolk