Two men have been arrested by police investigating the fire at the Crooked House pub in Staffordshire.

A 66-year-old man from Dudley and a 33-year-old man from Milton Keynes were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, Staffordshire Police said.

They remain in custody and are being questioned by officers while the investigation continues.

The landmark building, known as Britain’s ‘wonkiest’ pub, was gutted by a suspected arson attack before being demolished by a digger earlier this month.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Campaigners attempted to block a lorry removing rubble from the site on Monday after staff and machinery from a specialist demolition and waste management firm moved on to the site.

A sit-down protest was held on the lane leading to the now-demolished building, with some campaigners attempting to witness the work taking place.

On Tuesday South Staffordshire Council said it would closely monitor work at the site after securing an agreement that bricks and foundations will be kept there.

Police now treating fire at Britain’s ‘wonkiest’ pub The Crooked House as arson

Lucy Clews killing: Man found guilty of murdering widow who invited him to stay over Christmas

Fire rips through The Crooked House in Staffordshire

The local authority said the “positive step” followed ongoing engagement with the site’s owners, a contractor, the Health and Safety Executive, and police.

The popular 18th-century pub burned down just two weeks after it was sold by pub company Marston’s to a private buyer.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The total demolition of the site had not been sanctioned by South Staffordshire Council, which said it had only permitted the top floor to be demolished over safety fears.

Related posts:

Man who said ‘he could not breathe’ after being restrained was unlawfully killed, coroner rules Dina Asher-Smith fails to make Olympic 100m final but teammate Daryll Neita through CCTV released of suspect after man, 61, killed in Birmingham hit-and-run Prince Andrew to give evidence under oath next month in civil sex assault case England lose to Scotland as Wales thrashed by Ireland in Six Nations Government blocks Chinese tech deal on national security grounds Harry and Meghan documentary will be ‘real watershed moment’ for couple Five-year-old in Belfast is ninth child to die after contracting Strep A infection Sunak seeks to maintain dialogue with China but will have to be clear about the threat Suspicious device found in Northern Ireland cemetery – police operation under way Police question woman as tributes left to girl, 8, killed in school party crash Train strikes to disrupt UK’s most popular Pride event