Children evacuated from football ground fire

A number of children had to be evacuated after what is believed to be a deliberately-lit fire at a football ground in East Sussex.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at the recreation ground in Western Road, Hailsham, at 19:10 GMT on Tuesday.

Sussex Police said the fire was being treated as "suspected deliberate ignition".

Hailsham Town Football Club thanked the club’s youth team coaches who helped a number of children to safety.

“Fire crews are on site, and we thank them, and our volunteers... for their efforts in tackling the blaze and saving equipment,” a club spokesman added.

The football club said the fire involved a hedge between the ground and the recreation ground.

Police said enquiries into the incident were ongoing and no arrests had been made.

Two fire engines from Eastbourne were in attendance and used two hose reel jets to tackle the fire, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said.

Nobody was injured, ESFRS added.

Eyewitness Neil Povey said he and his son helped move equipment belonging to the football club away from the flames.

“There were some goal posts that were not next to the fire, but the fire was heading their way. So we very quickly moved those out of the way,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.

“It then became evident that behind the hedge there was also a stand on fire as well.”

He said about 20% of the stand was damaged by the fire.

Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact police.

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