Police are treating a town centre fire as “deliberate”.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene of the blaze in George Street in Hastings at 7.17pm on January 18.

Firefighters battled the flames overnight at the former nightclub overnight and were still on the scene during the early hours the next day to dampen down any hot spots.

At the height of the blaze at 9.30pm there were ten pumps in attendance, five officers, one command unit and one arial ladder platform with crews working hard to extinguish the fire.

Sussex Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

A force spokesman said: “Police were called to assist East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with a fire at a former nightclub in George Street, Hastings, at just before 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 18.

“Following enquiries, the fire is now being treated as deliberate ignition.

“An investigation is underway.”