Pictured: Burnt out hulk of mental health hospital after fire sparks mass evacuation and leaves NHS with seven-figure repair bill as 'arsonist', 43, is arrested (13 Pics)

This is the scene of devastation after an inferno ripped through a hospital ward.

Images taken today of the George Bryan Centre - an inpatient unit providing medical treatment to people with mental health issues - at the Sir Robert Peel Hospital in Tamworth, Staffs show mangled metal and plastic after flames enveloped the building last night.

Police confirmed no one was injured but eyewitnesses at the scene speculated a patient could have been involved in the blaze.

This morning Staffordshire Police said a 43-year-old man, from Tamworth, has been detained on suspicion of arson.

Callum Horne, 22, said: 'I was about three miles away and we could see it from there.

'We came down after practice and there was a blazing fire - I don't think this was an accident.'

Tara Shemsin, 34, said: 'My mum has been a patient here for the last month due to mental health issues, she was in the west wing where the fire happened.

'All the staff and patients are fine but she's really upset because all her stuff has burnt - she's already lost her home due to mental health and now this. She's really distressed.'

Bradley Stokes, 24, said: 'I ran down, and when I got here it was worse than I imagined.

'I could see it from the town centre, I live half a mile away and I could see the flames. There were 40 or more people here, the blaze was chaotic and huge.

'I thought there would have been a few deaths it was that bad.'  

Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust who run the centre confired that all staff and patients were evacuated without injuries. 

At the time of the fire there were 18 patients in the West Wing unit which was destroyed. All of the patients have been found alternative accommodation.

The facility cares for adults who are acutely mentally unwell. The East Wing of the hospital is still occupied although this is 'subject to an ongoing review based on assessment of the building'. 

A full investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway.  

Neil Carr, Chief Executive said, 'I would like to pay tribute to the staff who dealt with this emergency with great professionalism and ensured everyone was evacuated in a safe and timely way.

'We have robust emergency evacuation procedures in the Trust which are regularly tested, in fact the George Bryan Centre had carried out a fire drill just last week and I am confident this was an important factor in the excellent response to this situation.

'We recognise this was a traumatic and distressing event for all involved and we will now ensure that all those affected receive whatever help and care they need to support their emotional well being.'

Any relatives or friends who are concerned about patients from the George Bryan Centre should contact the hospital site manager via the Trust switchboard on 0300 790 7000.

Some 10 crews from Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire fire services were deployed as fire took hold at the facility, prompting the evacuation of nearly a dozen occupants and staff.

A spokesman from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said that there was 'quite a lot of the building involved' in the blaze.

'We're trying to sacrifice part of the building and let that burn to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the hospital,' he added.

Staffordshire Police said they were called to the incident at 9.15pm. There are no reported casualties.