Arson attack guts store

POLICE are hunting arsonists who set fire to a Heathfield supermarket this week.

Budgens food store, in Station Road, was totally gutted after a deliberate fire to outside dustbins spread to the rest of the building.

The offenders went to a loading bay at rear of the building, on Monday night, where they set fire to the bins.

That fire then spread to the main rear roof structure and right across the first floor of the premises. The inside of the building suffered extensive smoke and water damage.

A post office complex at the store was also destroyed, forcing elderly residents in Heathfield to travel to Cross-in-Hand to collect their pensions.

Around 40 fire-fighters and seven pumps from Heathfield, Mayfield, Uckfield, Burwash, Hailsham and Seaford were called to the blaze after receiving the call at just before midnight.

Officers used five hose reels, 15 breathing apparatus and one jet to fight the fire until 2am. An area ladder platform was also deployed from Eastbourne.

A fire brigade spokesman said that 20 per cent of the building s roof had been destroyed in the fire.

A police spokesman confirmed the incident was being treated as arson and that Scene Of Crime Officers officers had been scouring the site for evidence.

Budgens spokesperson Joy Newham said the full extent of the damage could not estimated until police had completed their investigations. She added: It s still in the hands of police. Until then we cannot carry out our own examination of the building.

She said it was not yet clear how long the store would be closed and whether the 29 staff would be re-deployed elsewhere.

Anybody with information about the attack should contact PC Neil King at Eastbourne on 0845 6070999