A suspected arson attack at one of the largest car companies in Sussex is thought to have caused more than £200,000 of damage.

The blaze at Evans Halshaw in Portslade last night wrecked a workshop at the rear of the showroom in Old Shoreham Road.

Twenty cars in the shop for repairs were damaged by heat and smoke and at least one, a Ford Escort, was written off.

An fire brigade spokesman said: "It was so hot in there that a number of car registration plates just melted."

The blaze broke out shortly after 10pm and 20 firefighters were at the scene for more than two hours.

The building, a garage and workshop also used for storage, was extensively damaged.

Fire investigators and police were at the scene today and suspect the fire may have been started deliberately. However, Detective Inspector Graham Pratt of Hove police said: "We are keeping an open mind as to the cause."

The showroom was open as normal today and managers were meeting to discuss the damage.

Anyone with information should contact Hove CID on 0845 6070999.