Firebug strikes

DAMAGE estimated at 7,000 was caused and lives put in danger when arsonists struck in Newhaven town centre.

Bins were set alight at the rear of shops in Lower Place in the early hours of Sunday.

The fire spread to the Balloonatics store room melting a metal security door, burning stock and partially destroying the shop's roof.

Fortunately, helium canisters, used to inflate balloons, did not explode.

If the fire had remained undiscovered for just minutes more it could have ended in tragedy, said Balloonatics owner Stephen Berry.

'The store room was effectively destroyed. We were very, very lucky. Another 15 minutes and it would have burnt down the whole building.

'There are people living in the small flat above the shops. They were smoked out. It was a narrow escape. It could have been a catastrophe with possible fatalities.'

Two fire engines and a team of 12 firefighters from Newhaven, wearing breathing apparatus, battled the blaze which was in danger of spreading to other shops in the parade.

Firefighters were still damping down the blaze three hours after it started.