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Replica Iron Age roundhouse torched
A REPLICA Iron Age roundhouse at a Sheffield farm has been damaged by fire after arsonists set fire to its roof.
Workers at Heeley City Farm were alerted to the blaze when they spotted billowing clouds of smoke pouring from the roundhouse, built using charity money and help from more than 1,000 volunteers.
Sally Rodgers, the farm's community heritage officer, said she felt "sick and disgusted" over the blaze on Wednesday evening, which the fire service is treating as deliberate.
"It's about half of the roof that has gone," she said. "I think it's just a combination of dry weather, a nice evening and bored people."
Sally said the fire was started after the site shut for the day at 5pm.
Smoke clouds were seen by a group of farm workers who had gone for drinks in a nearby pub.
"It's been very dry weather and the roof's not fireproof," she said. "The damage is on the side where it's easiest to hang around. All it would've taken is a lighter."
The roof of the six-metre-wide roundhouse is thatched with water reeds, while the walls are made from mud and sticks.
The structure is a replica of an early form of housing in Britain and was set to be used as a classroom for the farm and a venue for workshops and events, as well as a shelter for cattle.
It is run in partnership with Sheffield University's archaeology department and was paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund and money raised through a Comic Relief appeal.
"Over 1,000 people volunteered to help build it and all their work's been destroyed," Sally said.
"They started building it almost two years ago.
"People gave their time and effort, and put their heart and soul into it. I can't think what we should do now.
"We'll have to see how bad the damage is. It might be the case that the whole roof might have to come off."
A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said a crew called to the roundhouse just before 6.15pm found the roof "well alight".
Firefighters spent 45 minutes putting out the blaze.
"We have classed it as deliberate," she added.
Anyone with information about the fire should call South Yorkshire Police on 0114 220 2020.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Light snow
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