A YOUNG hoaxer forced fire crews to search a building for a "trapped" boy as a blaze ripped through a sports club.

With flames leaping to 50 feet, fire officers fought their way through the burning pavilion in Ravensbourne Avenue, Bromley -- because another boy had cycled past them and called out: "My brother's in there."

The blaze, which police are treating as arson, destroyed the building and caused an estimated £50,000 of damage.

Emergency crews stayed for 24 hours to check no one was trapped in the rubble. They were unable to go in for several hours because of the danger from the melting roof and crumbling rubble.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The building was already engulfed in flames when crews arrived. Bitumen on the roof was melting and falling onto the lower floors and we couldn't get in there."

A police spokesman said: "There has been lots of trouble there before with damage and break-ins over a number of years. The last fire happened on September 4 and the building is repeatedly vandalised by kids. Now it has been completely destroyed."

Workmen have moved in to bulldoze what remains of the building, owned by the Goan Business Association.

The land is owned by Lewisham Council, whose spokesman Linda Miller said: "It will be a great loss to the community. The club was used by lots of people -- from footballers to couples wanting to hire it for wedding receptions."

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