Tanning salon boss blames jealousy for blaze

Fire crews worked until 02:00 BST to extinguish the fire

The owner of a tanning salon in West Sussex devastated by fire has said he believes his business was repeatedly attacked by "a jealous person".

Fire crews evacuated 40 people from flats above Tan Tastic, in Broadwater Street West, Worthing, as a blaze broke out on Monday night.

Sussex Police has said the fire is being investigated as suspected arson.

Offering a £5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, the business's director David Williams said the damage has been "catastrophic".

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex, Mr Williams said he has paid his staff to clean nearby businesses affected by the fire.

"The attack on the business is heart-breaking, not just for us but the residents above and surrounding businesses," he said.

“Christmas is around the corner, nobody wants to be out of work and it’s affected so many lives.”

The business had already been vandalised before the fire

He said whoever had attacked the building, which had previously been vandalised, was “just a jealous person”.

“I don’t want to throw accusations. It’s not a personal attack - I live four hours away from the store," he said.

With a 10-year lease on the building, Mr Williams hopes the business can reopen.

The owners of the business said it has to reopen but they are "in limbo" while investigations continue

Standing outside the burnt-out premises, Radio Sussex reporter Sam Dixon-French described how everything was "blackened with soot".

"There’s just this acrid stench that’s just coming out, really stinging in the nostrils," he said.

A woman passing by said: "I’ve seen empty shops in town centres... but to see one that’s just so burnt out, where there’s so much destruction, is really shocking.”