A day centre has been devastated by an arson attack.

St Anne's Day Centre in Kemp Town, Brighton has closed due to the fire, which started at 11.15pm last night and raged until 4am this morning.

Dozens of service users had to be turned away when they arrived for breakfast.

St Anne's, in St John the Baptist Church's Fitzherbert Centre in Upper Bedford Street, is one of only two homeless day centres in Brighton.

It is believed the arsonists broke in through a window at the rear in St George's Terrace and started the fire in the office, which has been badly damaged.

The ceiling has fallen down, there is structural damage to the walls and nearly every window has smashed with the heat. There is also damage to the main room and the bookshop.

St Anne's provides food, company, advice and resources such as computers. Many users, including homeless people and residents who are isolated or lonely, rely on it for food and support.

Those who turned up this morning to find the centre ravaged by fire were horrified and pledged to come back to help staff and volunteers start cleaning up tomorrow.

One was 82-year-old Olive Taylor, who has had her gas cut off and is unable to cook at her home in Evelyn Terrace.

She said: "It is very sad. I find it very helpful here in lots of ways. I can't see to read so they give me a hand. It is terrible."

Paul Jones, 46, of Grand Parade said: "It is bang out of order. I've used this place for a number of years and they have done me no end of favours."

The fire took place a couple of hours after the centre's soup run had returned from Haywards Heath. Neighbours and passers-by called the fire service after seeing smoke pouring from the building.

Centre manager Nick Beale said: "All services are cancelled until further notice. It is just mindless."

The centre usually runs from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm, offering breakfast, and lunch for 20p. Up to 60 people aged from 16 to 82 visit a day.

Mr Beale is determined to get the centre cleaned up as soon as possible so he can at least offer sandwiches at the door.

Anyone who can help is asked to come along to the back entrance.

First Base Day Centre, run by BHT in Montpelier Place, Brighton, was going to close next week for maintenance but has postponed the work until St Anne's is on its feet.

Nikki Homewood, BHT's director of homelessness and complex needs, said in the past First Base had also been subject to arson attacks. She said: "I would want to stress the disruption and upset it causes, obviously for the service but mainly for people who rely on that service to meet basic needs. We will respond as best we can to make sure those needs are met."

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said it was lucky the fire did not spread to homes and risk someone's life.

She said: "It is only by chance that passers-by noticed the smoke coming from the premises and managed to raise the alarm quickly. Officers are conducting house to house enquiries and speaking to people who may have been in the area late last night in an effort to identify who is responsible."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Brighton CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.