Police seek four boys after derelict school fire

Media caption,

Footage shows firefighters tackling the blaze and the aftermath

  • Published

Police are looking for four boys in connection with a fire at a derelict school which officers believe was started deliberately.

Eight crews were originally sent to the blaze at the former Moira House School buildings in Upper Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, at about 17:45 BST on Sunday.

Shortly after 08:00 on Monday, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) station manager Trevor Funnell said the response had been scaled back to two fire engines, but he expected firefighters to be there for most of the day.

Sussex Police, who were appealing for information, said the four "boys/young people" were thought to have entered the site on Sunday afternoon.

An aerial view over a gutted, burnt building with smoke still coming from the site.Image source, Dan Jessup
Image caption,

Sussex Police are appealing for information about the fire

Mr Funnell told BBC Radio Sussex part of Upper Carlisle Road remained closed, but that it would reopen as soon as possible.

He added the part of the building that caught fire had collapsed and urged people to stay away.

An old building in the distance on fire.
Image caption,

The fire broke out on Sunday night

Images show the blaze swept through a large part of the main four-storey building, and destroyed a number of rooms to the rear of the site.

Police and ambulance crews are no longer at the scene and no injuries have been reported.

Sussex Police has been contacted for more information.

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