A FIRE which caused extensive damage to a disused private girls' school may have been the work of arsonists.

More than 20 firefighters spent two hours tackling the blaze at Mickelsfield Girls School, Seaford, this morning.

Fire crews were alerted at 5.45am and two appliances from Seaford were sent to the scene.

They were joined by crews from Newhaven and Eastbourne, who spent three hours bringing the fire under control.

Assistant Divisional Officer Pat Scott said: "We are treating it as suspicious at present and we will be liaising with police."

The fire started in the roof of the Edwardian building and tiles and masonry crashed to the ground.

The blaze was successfully contained by fire crews by 8.20am.

Fire officers were expected to be at the scene for most of the day to make the area safe.

No one was injured at the blaze at the school, which closed in 1994 although a paramedic team was on standby.

Mr Scott said the situation could have been much worse.

He added: "We had to contain the fire and beat it back on itself. There is a very strong wind and it could have spread throughout the building, which is connected to other more recently built annexes.

"Fortunately we have managed to save most of the building but about 40 per cent of the roof and part of the first floor have suffered severe damage."

Parents, children and staff at the nearby Mickelsfield nursery were being turned away by police.

Nursery head Jean McGarrie said: "Even though we are right next door to the building we are out of the direction of the wind.

"But it's such a shame to see such a wonderful building end up like this."

Bill Purcell, 62, who was delivering papers at the time, was one of the first people to call the fire brigade.

He said: "It's a building that everyone in Seaford knows and loves.

"This is a terrible sight to see."

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