UPDATE: Teens arrested for Shinewater fire latest

Three teenagers arrested in connection with the arson at Shinewater School last year have been told by police they will not be charged.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jan 2016, 08:13 BST
Updated 25th Jan 2016, 08:24 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

DISTRAUGHT pupils and parents watched as a blaze ripped through their beloved primary school in an arson attack. The fire at Shinewater Primary School started in the early hours of yesterday morning and at the height of the blaze more than 60 firefighters were battling the flames. Crews battled the fire at the school in Milfoil Drive, Langney, for at least five hours. Classrooms for Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils were destroyed and the rest of the empty building was severely damaged but no-one was hurt, council officers and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. A 14-year-old boy remained in police custody last night after being arrested on suspicion of arson while both the fire service and Sussex Police investigated. Resident Peter Allen, whose daughter still attends the Eastbourne school, was among those who watched as smoke billowed out of the building and flames stripped treasured drawings and work from the walls. The 45-year-old, who lives near the school, said: "It was about 1.15am and a friend texted me saying the school was on fire. I couldn't hear any sirens or smell anything so went up there to check, then I saw the flashing lights and the smoke and flames. Promoted stories • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) Recommended by "Three of my daughters used to go there and my ten-year-old Francesca still does. She was asleep at the time and I told her what happened. I don't think it had sunk in. But we were all quite upset afterwards. They kept saying to me that all the drawings and pictures on the walls would be destroyed. "I didn't sleep all night as I was trying to make sure everyone knew what had happened. "I saw the headteacher up at the school and she looked very upset. There is a lot of memories for everyone at that school." Fire engines from Eastbourne, Hailsham, Herstmonceux, Pevensey, Bexhill, Seaford, Bohemia Rd Hastings, Battle and Heathfield, a water carrier from Uckfield and fire officersDISTRAUGHT pupils and parents watched as a blaze ripped through their beloved primary school in an arson attack. The fire at Shinewater Primary School started in the early hours of yesterday morning and at the height of the blaze more than 60 firefighters were battling the flames. Crews battled the fire at the school in Milfoil Drive, Langney, for at least five hours. Classrooms for Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils were destroyed and the rest of the empty building was severely damaged but no-one was hurt, council officers and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. A 14-year-old boy remained in police custody last night after being arrested on suspicion of arson while both the fire service and Sussex Police investigated. Resident Peter Allen, whose daughter still attends the Eastbourne school, was among those who watched as smoke billowed out of the building and flames stripped treasured drawings and work from the walls. The 45-year-old, who lives near the school, said: "It was about 1.15am and a friend texted me saying the school was on fire. I couldn't hear any sirens or smell anything so went up there to check, then I saw the flashing lights and the smoke and flames. Promoted stories • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) Recommended by "Three of my daughters used to go there and my ten-year-old Francesca still does. She was asleep at the time and I told her what happened. I don't think it had sunk in. But we were all quite upset afterwards. They kept saying to me that all the drawings and pictures on the walls would be destroyed. "I didn't sleep all night as I was trying to make sure everyone knew what had happened. "I saw the headteacher up at the school and she looked very upset. There is a lot of memories for everyone at that school." Fire engines from Eastbourne, Hailsham, Herstmonceux, Pevensey, Bexhill, Seaford, Bohemia Rd Hastings, Battle and Heathfield, a water carrier from Uckfield and fire officers
DISTRAUGHT pupils and parents watched as a blaze ripped through their beloved primary school in an arson attack. The fire at Shinewater Primary School started in the early hours of yesterday morning and at the height of the blaze more than 60 firefighters were battling the flames. Crews battled the fire at the school in Milfoil Drive, Langney, for at least five hours. Classrooms for Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils were destroyed and the rest of the empty building was severely damaged but no-one was hurt, council officers and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. A 14-year-old boy remained in police custody last night after being arrested on suspicion of arson while both the fire service and Sussex Police investigated. Resident Peter Allen, whose daughter still attends the Eastbourne school, was among those who watched as smoke billowed out of the building and flames stripped treasured drawings and work from the walls. The 45-year-old, who lives near the school, said: "It was about 1.15am and a friend texted me saying the school was on fire. I couldn't hear any sirens or smell anything so went up there to check, then I saw the flashing lights and the smoke and flames. Promoted stories • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) • â€(R) Recommended by "Three of my daughters used to go there and my ten-year-old Francesca still does. She was asleep at the time and I told her what happened. I don't think it had sunk in. But we were all quite upset afterwards. They kept saying to me that all the drawings and pictures on the walls would be destroyed. "I didn't sleep all night as I was trying to make sure everyone knew what had happened. "I saw the headteacher up at the school and she looked very upset. There is a lot of memories for everyone at that school." Fire engines from Eastbourne, Hailsham, Herstmonceux, Pevensey, Bexhill, Seaford, Bohemia Rd Hastings, Battle and Heathfield, a water carrier from Uckfield and fire officers

The trio had been bailed by police and were due to return on bail Friday (January 22).

But a spokesperson at Sussex Police said on Friday, “Following a thorough police investigation, two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, who were arrested in connection with the fire at Shinewater Primary School inn Milfoil Drive, have been released without charge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Currently there are no further lines of enquiry but anyone with further information is asked to email [email protected] or call 101 quoting serial 0033 of 12/10.”

Fire swept through Shinewater Primary School and Nursery School in the early hours of a Monday morning in October.

More than 50 firefighters worked through the night to tackle the blaze in Milfoil Drive.

Police and fire investigators say the blaze was started deliberately.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at Text to display

3) Follow us on Twitter @Eastbournenews

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Eastbourne Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:FireSussex PolicePolice