Police are investigating a fire which destroyed an Indian restaurant on Christmas Day.

More than 20 firefighters battled the blaze which gutted Rice and Spice in The Broadway, Haywards Heath, at about 8pm.

It is believed the fire, which also caused smoke damage to offices and flats above, may have been started deliberately.

Police and fire investigation officers have been back to the scene to try to determine the cause.

Fire crews from Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hurstpierpoint and Horsham all helped to control the blaze for about three hours.

Some crews remained at the scene until the early hours of Boxing Day.

There were fears people were trapped in the flats above but everyone got out safely and fire checks revealed there was no one left inside.

Firefighter Les Maddams, of Haywards Heath fire station, said: "It was a very big fire and it was well alight when we arrived.

"We got there within a couple of minutes as it is just up from the fire station but because of the limited number of staff we had on, there were only five of us and it took us a long time to get it under control initially.

"We needed at least double the number of us initially to put it out satisfactorily.

"It was out within half an hour but then we tried not to disturb the scene. If you put gallons of water on something it washes the evidence away and we needed to protect the crime scene.

"There were people in the building above although the crew got in and held the fire until the other crews arrived to help them out.

"Everyone came out and the building was checked to make sure no one was left inside.

"The building was extensively damaged and the restaurant was gutted but the crews with breathing apparatus did really well to stop the fire going to the flats above."

Firefighters also found half a dozen beds in a room attached to the restaurant, which had closed for the Christmas holiday.

There was a fire in the same building about two years ago when there was a different restaurant on the premises.

Mr Maddams said: "It is one of those places that tends to open for a year and not do very well. There were quite a few beds in what was like a little annexe room.

"What you quite often find in certain eating establishments is, above or adjacent to it, a room for beds for the staff."

Richard Bentley, assistant divisional officer of West Sussex Fire Brigade, praised crews who endured intense heat and smoke to bring the fire under control.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious but the cause was still under investigation and they would not be able to comment further until it was known.

The restaurant owner was unavailable for comment.