Day centre damaged by arsonists

A day centre for the homeless in East Sussex has been forced to close after an arson attack.

St Anne's Day Centre, in Upper Bedford Street, Brighton, was "extensively damaged" by a fire which was started on Monday night.

Manager Nick Beale said the centre's buildings - part of St John the Baptist Church - were littered with broken glass, wall plaster and melted plastic.

Sussex Police have launched an investigation into the blaze.

Police and fire crews were called to the church's Fitzherbert Centre, home to the day centre operation, at about 2340 BST on Monday.

Smoke spotted

A fire had apparently been started in an office, by arsonists who gained access through a car park off St George's Terrace and smashed a window.

A police spokeswoman said: "Given that the Fitzherbert Centre is in a densely-populated residential area, the fire could have spread further afield and we may have been dealing with someone having lost their life.

"It is only by chance that passers-by noticed smoke coming from the premises and managed to raise the alarm."

Mr Beale said the day centre catered for about 60 people a day, offering lunch and breakfast, social activities and computer and telephone facilities.

Mr Beale said he hoped the centre could be providing "sandwiches at the door" within a fortnight.