HUNDREDS of young people will miss out on visits to a popular Scout centre after arsonists caused a major fire which gutted its main building.

Vandals are believed to have started the fire which tore through the building at Rhydd Covert, next to West Midland Safari Park in Kidderminster Road, on Sunday afternoon.

The centre was "gutted" and a variety of groups involving hundreds of children would now have to be turned away until the new year, said site warden, Mark Woodward.

He added: "It is a new experience for lots of young people and now they are going to miss out because of the mindless few.

"It takes a lot of money to keep this site going and we work very hard and you get rewarded by this kind of nonsense."

Users hit by fire include the KD6 Franche Group, District Explorers and Cubs who use the building for sleepovers at weekends, said Mr Woodward.

Camping will continue at the 50-acre site, which welcomes thousands of young people from throughout the UK each year, though the building served as a base to the whole campsite, Mr Woodward said.

"It is like losing your right arm. It is a focal point of the site."

The fire appeared to have been started in a caravan next to the building at about 3.50pm, said sub-officer Mick Rowlands, of Kidderminster Fire Station.

He said the fire spread to the main building and three youths were seen running from the scene.

Sub-officer Rowlands added: "There was severe fire damage to the roof and severe smoke damage to the inside of the building."

Tents, tables, chairs, a fridge freezer and microwave were all lost in the blaze.

Dave Denton, district commissioner for the 13 Scout groups in Kidderminster, said: "The Scouts do not get any money at all from the Government so we are on our own and have to raise the money ourselves.

"When selfish people come along and do something like this, then it is all gone in an instant."

Police are treating the incident as arson and anyone with information should contact 08457 444888.