Young families missed out on a Christmas party after vandals struck.

A fire extinguisher was discharged through the letter box of Shakespeare Hall in Newhaven.

The building was due to house a party for the Escape young parents' support group on Wednesday and Father Christmas was even lined up to visit.

But, while the foam-covered floor looked like a festive snow scene, the air pollution meant it was uninhabitable.

Pam Perry, of the Newhaven Childcare Initiative, said: "We picked up three bags of dust. Volunteers worked for four hours to clear the dust without success so young parents and children were turned away at the door."