Beach hut fire

Two were completely destroyed while another was ruined with contents worth more than 1,000.

The fourth was not badly damaged but will need some repair work.

A Bexhill fire crew was called out to the fire on Saturday morning at 5.20am and dealt with the emergency using one hose reel jet.

The owners of the huts were then informed of the fire by Beach Inspector Brian Fox.

One of them told the Observer it seemed the fire might have started when hooligans broke into another beach hut and took some Mastic out of it which was then smeared over locks and set fire to.

Trevor Bourne, whose hut still stands but is burned to charcoal, commented: "It's a mess, isn't it? But not as bad as next door...it could be worse. This is fixable. It is build on metal frames so all we do is unbolt the panels and start again.

"She will be back.

"The hut will be rebuilt but it will take time and money.

"We have been lucky...they have all been hit along here. It is not fun - it's vandalism."

Trevor's family bought their beach hut six years ago for 5,000 plus and mother Lynne is "mortified" by the fire.

Trevor said: "Gutted. Mum is mortified...this was her dream. She wanted one since she was a kid...she is now reaching retirement age. This is what she wanted and we all pitched in.

"We designed and re-built it. It is a family thing."

"I telephoned Mum to tell her and she was very tearful - not very happy at all. But it is a risk you take. You build it and this is what you have to put up with. No-one will insure them because this is on public land. You do your best to try and keep it safe but you can't be here all the time."

Apart from the hut itself the family has lost four paddles each costing 50, a kayak worth between 600-700, body board equipment and three canoes, all of which Trevor estimates over 1,000.

The two beach huts which were burned to the ground are thought to be not more than 18 months old.