Firebug drives out vagrant

The man in his early 20s, who has not been named, has not been seen near the tower since the arson attack on Friday night.

Police want to contact him to make sure he is safe and sound.

Lewes firefighters called the police to the Market Tower at 10.50pm.

They confirmed that a quantity of bedding and clothing had been deliberately set on fire.

A major scorch mark could be seen on the passage wall.

Said Police Inspector Dave Padwick: 'The homeless man is not a suspect. Someone else set fire to his bedding.

'Whether it was a sick joke or a deliberate attempt to force him to move on, we don't know.

'But it was certainly a cruel thing to do to a poor young man who had been sleeping out for so long.

'The perpetrators did not know he wasn't under the bedding when they set it alight.

'And the Market Tower building itself could have been set on fire.'

It is understood that the young man, who comes from Lewes but does not live at home, had been sleeping in the Market Tower passage, which is a public thoroughfare, since the end of November, including the bitterly cold winter months.

The tower itself houses the town bell and is also headquarters of Lewes Operatic Society.

The young man spent his time in the Cliffe during the day and sometimes slept out there as well.

Added Inspector Padwick: 'We are appealing for information. We would like to catch these thugs.'