Lap dancing club fire 'was arson'

The Club Redd lap dancing club opened at the end of June

Police believe a huge fire that ripped through a nightclub in West Sussex was started deliberately.

More than 100 firefighters from Surrey and Sussex tackled the blaze which destroyed the recently-opened Redd lap dancing club in Burgess Hill.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue said the intensity of the fire above the Martlets Shopping Centre on Tuesday had put the lives of their staff at risk.

Sussex Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

Det Insp Stu Hale said: "We believe Redd's was intentionally targeted by arsonists, and would urge anyone who was in the vicinity of The Martlets shopping precinct from around 1am on Tuesday July 15, to come forward and let us know what they may have seen or heard.

Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties Gary Towson

"Information that may seem very insignificant to them, may be of great importance to the police investigation."

Leo Valls, who owns the clubs, has already claimed the fire was arson.

He said some of the negative opinions that he had received following the opening of the club in June had been "vitriolic".

Nobody was in the nightclub at the time and no injuries were reported.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, Gary Towson said: "The intensity of the fire put the lives of firefighters at risk.

"The incident commander made an astute decision to withdraw the firefighters for their own safety, and the roof collapsed a few minutes later.

"Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties."

Police officers are collecting forensic evidence from the scene and examining CCTV footage of the area.