Newhaven school fire: Two girls and a boy arrested over arson

Two 13-year-old girls have been arrested following a fire

Two girls and a boy, all aged 13, have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at a former school.

Forty firefighters were sent to the former Grays School in Western Road, Newhaven, on Monday morning.

The fire ripped through the building and caused extensive damage. Thick black smoke was seen along the East Sussex coast.

Nobody was injured in the fire. The three teenagers have been released while inquiries continue.

The blaze could be seen along the Sussex coast

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said once the fire service and police had finished their investigations on site, it would be "working to secure the building".

The school closed in 2014 and later that year was declared surplus to requirements by East Sussex County Council.

The authority agreed to sell the site to a developer, which has now received planning permission from Lewes District Council to demolish the school and build housing.