Convent chapel goes up in flames

Nearly 100 firefighters tackled a blaze in the chapel of a former Carmelite convent in West Sussex.

Emergency services were alerted at 2010 BST on Sunday when fire was spotted coming from the roof of the chapel in Hunston, near Chichester.

Fire crews had to fight the rapidly developing blaze from the chapel's doorway because of debris falling from the roof.

The cause is under investigation and arson has not been ruled out.

Heat exhaustion

There were no injuries, but one firefighter was treated for possible heat exhaustion.

Water was pumped from nearby lakes to fight the blaze, with 15 pumps being sent to the scene along with two aerial ladders.

Firefighters were later able to enter the chapel and stop the blaze spreading to the rest of the convent.

A detailed investigation by police and fire service officers into the cause of the blaze is under way, using the West Sussex fire investigation dog, Hattie.

The convent is not derelict but has not been occupied for about a year.

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