AN ARSON inquiry is under way following a blaze that tore through a factory warehouse, causing nearly £2 million damage.

Fire investigators and police confirmed today that the fire which destroyed the £1 million warehouse at Norit Beauty Care in Eastbourne was started deliberately.

More than 100 people were evacuated from the factory in Brampton Road, in the heart of Eastbourne's industrial zone, during Monday's blaze.

The fire, which destroyed plastic toiletry bottles worth £750,000, was one of the biggest ever to hit the town.

It involved 75 firefighters and a huge cloud of black smoke could be seen for miles around.

Detectives say a small fire reported in the car park of the Norit factory minutes before the main blaze is crucial to the case.

They say they will be quizzing members of staff in their hunt for the arsonist.

Det Sgt Keith Lindsay said: "I cannot say too much about the circumstances behind the fire.

"We know that the fire that destroyed the warehouse was started inside the building.

"But the crucial factor is that there was a fire outside shortly before the internal fire started. That has led us to believe the internal fire was started deliberately.

"It would be wrong to point the finger at this stage. The factory is open plan. Someone could have walked in.

"We would ask any member of staff who may have seen anything to come forward. We will be talking to staff in the coming weeks as part of our inquiry."

Meanwhile bosses at Norit, which supplies beauty care products to several major high street chains, say they hope to be up and running again by June 1.

The fire destroyed all the company's bottles and containers but did not hit the production line. The firm says all jobs are safe.

Managing director Bill Hamilton said: "If it is arson it is gut-wrenching. The investigation is ongoing.

"The priority now is to contain the damage. We have already got cleaning crews working on getting parts of the factory not hit back into order.

"We hope to be producing again by June 1, if not sooner.

"All jobs are safe. No member of staff will be leaving this site through the issue of the fire."

Last night, firefighters were back in action at another major blaze at the former Hellingly mental hospital, near Hailsham.

More than 30 firemen from across East Sussex were called to one of the derelict buildings on the site at 4.45pm.

The fire affected the roof of the building, targeted last year by arsonists.

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