Investigation launched after blaze at Hove nursery

A serious fire gutted a children’s nursery in Hove on Friday night, prompting an investigation.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were called just after 9pm after flames enveloped the Cbabiesafe children’s nursery in Palmeria Avenue.

A serious fire gutted a children’s nursery in Hove on Friday night, prompting an investigation.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were called just after 9pm after flames enveloped the Cbabiesafe children’s nursery in Palmeria Avenue.

The road was shut at both ends with fire crews and police both attending the scene. At its peak eight fire engines were at the scene.

The fire is understood to have started in the porch and swept through the basement and two floors. However, fire crews were able to prevent the blaze spreading to nearby homes.

Just before midnight two more engines from West Sussex arrived to help dampen down the blaze. At 1am three fire engines were still at the scene.

At present no one is thought to have been injured.

Witness reports say a man was seen being arrested and taken away by officers in a police van.

Sussex Police have not yet commented on the incident or confirmed whether the man was arrested in connection with the blaze.

Local nurseries have rallied round to support families affected by the fire in Palmeria Avenue. The Nest nurseries and Robins, Easy Peach, Fizzy Fish have offered help following the fire.

The manager of Robins Nursery, Heather Johns said she was happy to offer free childcare for a week for any spare capacity she had to “give parents a chance to sort out the best solution until the nursery is fixed.”

By Clare Calder