Allotment owners have spoken of their fury at having their sheds burnt to the ground overnight.

Rob White, 40, and Claire Sedgwick, 41, from Brighton, who have allotments at Race Hill Farm in Swanborough Drive, Whitehawk, were told by another allotment owner that their sheds had been destroyed.

When Rob visited his patch, he found that his property had been obliterated by a fire shortly after 5am last Thursday.

Rob said: “There was probably £300 worth of stuff in there. We had a gas stove and the usual tools like spades.

“It was quite shocking really because all we could see was the remains of the tools that we’d built up.

“It’s not just a safe place to keep our stuff, it’s somewhere we like to go for a cup of tea, so it’s doubly gutting.

“There have been a number of break-ins and about three months ago there was another incident with a shed being burned down, so we want to know what the allotment department are going to do.

“We pay an annual subscription, and although it’s not a lot, we’d expect the council to be doing something proactive – it can’t just be seen as an expected risk.”

A police spokesman said: “Two privately owned garden sheds had been destroyed by fire and two more had been vandalised.

“Anyone with information should call 101, quoting serial 136 of 26 September, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

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