THE giant factory fire in Oldbury which saw over 75 firefighters tackling the blaze is now being treated as arson.

West Midlands Fire Service confirmed the fire was started deliberately at plastics firm Teknor Apex, Tat Bank Road, on Wednesday, April 29.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We are now treating the large fire at a plastics site in Oldbury on April 29 as arson, and liaising with West Midlands Police."

There were 29 staff on site when the blaze started, all of whom were evacuated and there were no injuries.

Watch commander Jason Boyd, from Oldbury Fire Station, said: “We knew where the fire started because one of the directors fought the fire but the demolition of part of the factory has allowed us to get better access to where it actually started.

“The fire investigation officer saw evidence that suggested it was possibly a suspicious fire.

“There are a lot of investigations going on at the moment.”

Bill Murray, president of Teknor Apex Company, added: "An expert in fire origin and cause has done an investigation of the site and was unable to determine a cause.

"In accordance with the law the investigation has been turned over to the local authorities who are doing a complete review of reports done by the insurance company and the local fire district."