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The most recent landlord of the Crooked House pub that was destroyed by suspected arson has told Sky News someone must be held accountable for the fire.

Lee Goodchild was the tenant landlord at the historic pub until it was sold by Marstons to new owners last month.

He said the destruction of the site has “bewildered me why anybody would want to do that to anywhere, let alone a building that’s so iconic and so well known worldwide.”

The Crooked House pub.
Copyright Richard Vince and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
People inspect the rubble remains as they gather at The Crooked House

The Crooked House has stood in Himley near Dudley for almost 260 years. It was known as the “wonkiest pub in Britain” after subsidence caused by nearby mining caused the building to tilt.

A large fire broke out at the pub on Saturday which police have said they are investigating as arson.

Mounds of earth on the road leading up to it made it difficult for firefighters to access.

On Monday it was reduced to rubble by a mechanical digger, despite South Staffordshire Council saying it had permitted only the top floor to be demolished for safety reasons.

Its total demolition prompted Dudley North MP Marco Longhi to question why police did not intervene.

Mr Goodchild said: “To see social media when you open your eyes at 5am on a Sunday morning – a burning building that you ran two, three weeks before. I didn’t even believe it, I thought somebody had doctored an image. Then obviously there were lots of calls and messages coming through.

Lee Goodchild used to be the landlord of the Crooked House
Image:
Lee Goodchild used to be the landlord of the Crooked House

“I actually thought do you know what – whatever the reason is this has happened or how this has happened, it could be rebuilt or restructured.

“And then a day later all of a sudden now it’s a pile of rubble.

“Whoever is to blame needs to be accountable.”

A man who used to visit the pub with his father was at the site where the pub used to stand on Thursday.

He said: “My father passed away two years ago and I can remember him bringing me down here when I was younger.

“Seeing it like this is heart-breaking. I don’t know what they wanted to gain from it really.

“It’s part of our heritage, it’s been here since the 1700s. It’s just really sad.”

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Marc Smith wants the pub rebuilt 'brick by brick'
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Marc Smith wants the pub rebuilt ‘brick by brick’

Marc Smith, a local who used to drink in the pub, said he was “really angry” when the pub burned down because it “meant a lot to people round here”.

Asked what was so special about the pub, he said: “The building, not the business so much. We would [drink in the pub] every now again, but it was the building [that was special].”

He added he would like to see it rebuilt “brick by brick”.

Amanda Inkersole worked in the pub for 10 years
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Amanda Inkersole worked in the pub for 10 years

Amanda Inkersole, who used to work in the pub for 10 years in the 1980s and 90s, said she felt “emotional” and “angry” when the pub burned down.

She said: “I was gutted really because it’s nothing now is it?

“We’d like it to be rebuilt and somebody needs to pay for what they’ve done. Somebody needs to be held accountable for it.”

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
Image:
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
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Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

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Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
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Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

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