Arson suspected at ex-social club

MORE than 40 firefighters spent 12 hours tackling a blaze at a derelict social club near the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath on Sunday.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Jan 2008, 08:46 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:05 BST

Eight fire crews were called out at 6.30pm and were still damping down the blaze at 6.45am on Monday. Arson has not been ruled out.

The fire is under investigation and a specialist team was at the hospital on Monday morning trying to find the cause of the blaze.

The 50-year-old hall, in the grounds of the Princess Royal Hospital, is owned by West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust and had been earmarked for demolition.

It had been empty since 2004 but was previously used by community groups, including the WRVS Meals on Wheels Service.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said there had been no disruption to services at the hospital.

Sussex Police were also called to the site to deal with traffic problems and crowd control caused by the blaze.