A blaze partially destroyed a derelict hospital building early today.

There were flames up to 15ft high at the height of the fire at the old Hellingly Hospital site, near Hailsham.

Up to 20 firefighters from stations in the Eastbourne area spent about two hours fighting the fire.

Security guards patrolling the site dialled 999 after spotting flames coming from the two-storey building.

Smoke could be seen by CCTV operators in nearby Hailsham.

The building was well alight when crews arrived at about 5.20am and by 7.30am 60 per cent of it had been destroyed.

Fire officials were today treating the fire as suspicious following a spate of arson attacks on the building.

A brigade spokesman said: "It is one of our problem areas, with quite a number of deliberate fires there in the past few months. We often get children playing round that area.

"Due to the time of this one, we believe it was started last night before it took hold this morning."