Warning after deliberate fires set in listed building

The Guildhall and neighbouring former police station have been empty for several years

Young people have been sent a warning after eight fires were started in a derelict Nottingham building over the course of six weeks.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue said emergency services have been responding to a growing number of deliberate fires in the city centre, specifically at the Grade-II listed Guildhall site.

Between 27 May and 7 July, the service reported nine incidents at the South Sherwood Street site, eight of which were deliberately set by young people.

Parents have been asked by the emergency services to talk to their children about the dangers of entering derelict buildings and starting fires.

The fire service said its response to the nine incidents included the use of more than 40 resources, including specialist equipment and officers, which took them away from other emergencies.

A multi-agency preventative approach, which includes Nottingham City Council, has since been put in place to stop people from entering the building, which the service says has been successful.

Since 7 July, fire officers have attended one incident at the Guildhall, which turned out to be a false alarm.

Assistant chief fire officer Damien West said: “Starting fires deliberately can be extremely harmful to those setting the fires, others within the local community and the environment.

"It’s a great risk to themselves and a drain on resources for fire, police, and ambulance services.

“We are urging parents to educate their children and know where they are at all times, especially throughout the summer holidays - it is incredibly dangerous for anyone to be playing with fire."

A city council spokesperson said the authority has gone "above and beyond the legal requirements" of managing the vacant site.

They added: “We would reiterate the warnings from the fire service about breaking into vacant sites and deliberately starting fires. We continue to liaise closely with them and the police to prevent this from happening."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.