Arsonists reduced an empty school to ruins yesterday morning.

Three teenagers were seen running away from Micklefield School, Seaford, before the fire broke out.

It is the third time in recent years the school, which closed six years ago, has been damaged in a blaze. Firecrews were called to the building in Sutton Avenue at 11am and spent most of yesterday at the scene.

Assistant divisional officer Tony Colwell said the fire was almost certainly arson. He said: "We do believe this to be deliberate as we have had reports of people being seen inside. There is no obvious accidental cause. There is no power to the building and no contents inside, so I suspect it was probably deliberate.

PC John Hammett, based at Seaford, said: "Three kids were seen running off. This was definitely arson." He said he believed the youths ran off through the extensive grounds at the back of the school.

Thomas Funnell was caretaker of the school until it closed. He said he was fed up with chasing youngsters off the site. He said: "Kids have a riot in there. Only last night 12 kids were running around. They have smashed everything. It's a shame really, it was a lovely old school."

The Micklefield School is owned by Llewellyn Homes of Eastbourne. Bernie Dent, who lives opposite the school, said residents were fed up the building being left empty year after year, attracting children and vagrants.

He said: "I have called the police so many times, but now I don't bother as they don't come anyway. Some kid is going to get injured in there or lose their life if they don't do something."

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