Children arrested after funeral car set on fire

A Google street view image of the front of S. Webb & Son Funeral Directors in Wednesbury. The shop has a blue sign above the entrance with its name in white lettering. Cars are parked alongside the road to the right of the store.
The car belonging to S. Webb & Son Funeral Directors was significantly damaged in the blaze [Google]

Four children have been arrested after a funeral car was set on fire.

The fire began after an “unknown object” was thrown underneath the vehicle on Upper High Street in Wednesbury at about 14:00 BST on Thursday, West Midlands Police said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but a police spokesperson said the car suffered significant damage.

Two 13-year-old boys and two girls, aged 12 and 13, have since been arrested on suspicion of arson, not endangering life.

They all remained in custody for questioning, the police spokesperson confirmed.

The car belonged to S. Webb & Son Funeral Directors, which said on social media that CCTV footage of the incident had been passed to police.

The firm said on Instagram: “Thank you all for the community support shown in trying to help us identify the individuals involved in setting one of our vehicles on fire.”

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