ARSONISTS are being blamed for a series of fires which broke out at a disused Worcester golf course.

Firefighters were called to Tolladine Golf Club after a member of the public spotted smoke coming from the clubhouse in The Fairway, Tolladine Road.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus broke into the building, which was boarded up, and discovered a blaze behind the bar in the function room of the wooden building, which sits on a brick base. They extinguished this and found three smaller fires.

Adrian Moore, station officer at Hereford and Worcester's Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Deansway, said that the police were called to investigate the fires, which started at about 3.20pm on Friday.

He said it was not known how they were started, but said the two crews from Worcester Fire Station got there just in time.

"Fortunately, we got there quickly enough to stop it spreading and involving the whole building, which could have happened quite quickly," he said.

A police spokesman said: "Police would like to hear from members of the community who may have seen any suspicious activity, or anyone acting suspiciously, in the vicinity of the Golf Club at the time."

In May, the Worcester News reported how the 108-year-old club had closed after racking up debts of more than £125,000.

Following reports of vandalism at the clubhouse, Worcester City Council's environmental enforcement officer Steve Williams said the council could serve a notice on the owner of the property, who is believed to live abroad, ordering them clean the site.

"If they don't comply it is an offence and we can go and clear the land and charge them for it and take them to court for breaching the notice," he said.

He said this could only happen if someone made an official complaint.

Anyone wanting to do this can call the council's environmental health department on 01905 722233.

Witnesses or anyone with information has been asked to call the police on 08457 444888, quoting 453S/140706.