A hospital blaze which forced the evacuation of dozens of patients and staff could have been started deliberately.

Scenes-of-crime officers are treating yesterday's 5am fire in the kitchens as suspicious after a day-long investigation at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

More than 120 firefighters spent two hours bringing the blaze under control.

The accident and emergency department was closed and people needing treatment were diverted to hospitals in Eastbourne, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells.

But today the department had reopened and outpatient clinics and operations were going ahead.

Meals were being brought from Eastbourne District General Hospital.