A FIRE that badly damaged a former school sports pavilion near Southwold last night could have been started deliberately.Fire crews were called to the former Eversley School sports pavilion in Nightingale Avenue, Reydon, shortly after 6.

By David Lennard

A FIRE that badly damaged a former school sports pavilion near Southwold last night could have been started deliberately.

Fire crews were called to the former Eversley School sports pavilion in Nightingale Avenue, Reydon, shortly after 6.30pm.

The Southwold fire crew were first on the scene and the wooden building, measuring approximately 12 metres by 6 metres, was well alight.

Other crews from Wrentham, Halesworth and Lowestoft were called to fight the blaze.

Assistant Divisional Officer Richard Chandler said: "The building was well alight when the Southwold crew arrived on the scene and further crews were sent to help fight the fire.

"In all about 25 firemen have been at the scene and the fire took approximately 35 minutes to bring under control."

No one was injured in the blaze.

The sports pavilion was used by youngsters attending Eversley School in Southwold.

The school, close to Southwold Common, closed a few years ago and the sports pavilion at nearby Reydon, just off Wangford Road next to the Randolph Hotel, has not been used since.

There was no electrical power to the building and the cause of the blaze is being investigated and arson has not been ruled out.

"It is too early to say just how the fire started at this stage.

"Fire service investigators and the police will be returning to the scene to establish the cause of the fire in the morning," Mr Chandler said last night.

PC Jim Basey-Fisher, of Southwold police, was at the scene and appealed for anyone with information about the blaze to contact him.

"This is a relatively busy area with lots of houses nearby. If anyone has information about the blaze I would like to hear from them," he said.

If anyone can help they are asked to contact Suffolk police on 01986 835100.