Sompting pub damaged in fire

Firefighters were called to the Ball Tree pub building, in Western Road, Sompting, at 10.30pm.

The ground floor was well alight when crews from Worthing, Lancing and Bognor arrived at the scene.

Fifty per cent of the ground floor was severely damaged by fire with the remainder of the building severely damaged by heat and smoke.

Firefighters were at the scene for just over an hour-and-a-half.

The cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental.

Last night, councillors sitting on Adur District Council’s planning committee approved an outline application for 10 homes on the site of the pub.

For a full report on the meeting see Thursday’s Lancing Herald (out Thursday, May 12).