Bungled Burglary

The bungling burglars were caught on CCTV as they attempted to burn their way through a thick metal shutter at the rear of the Curry's store in Broad Piece, early yesterday morning.

But their plan backfired badly as fridges and microwaves were set on fire by their equipment, and they fled the scene empty-handed.

Shocked store manageress Paula Lewendon, was woken at 1.30am when the fire started.

"My first thought was to just get to the store as quickly as possible to see the damage it's not nice at all," she said.

The store was closed for business on Wednesday as the extensive clean-up operation began and Ms Lewendon told the Littlehampton Gazette it was too early to say when the store would re-open.

The fire had been put out fairly quickly by two crews from Little-hampton and a crew from Arundel, once they had cut their way through the metal shutter, but it took them nearly four hours to clear the thick smoke from the store.

Focus Do-It-All next door suffered minor smoke damage as a result of the Curry's fire but they told the Littlehampton Gazette they were open for business as usual on Wednesday.

Police made two arrests at the scene a few hours after the fire, but they were unable to say whether or not this was in connection with this incident.

And police forensic teams were on the scene on Wednesday morning, collecting items for analysis. A spokesman said their strongest lead would probably come from the CCTV camera pointing straight at the shutter.

The spokesman said: "We are working closely with the fire brigade to find out exactly what happened and our enquiries are on-going."

The police appealed for anyone with any information relating to the fire, or any witnesses, to contact the incident management centre at Durrington on 0845 60 70 999.

Alternatively, call the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.