David beats the church hall firebugs

A FORMER church warden stopped a blaze spreading after firebugs struck at St Michael's Church hall, Newhaven.

Vandals started the fire by pushing burning paper into the wall cavity of the wooden church hall on Thursday last week at about 4pm.

Fortunately, a passing parishioner smelt burning and called on former church warden David Whiting who dialled 999 and then grabbed a fire extinguisher from the church to tackle the flames.

Current church warden Martin Edwards said: 'It looked as if somebody had pushed paper through a hole in the tongue and groove of the wood and set light to it.

'David put the nozzle of the fire extinguisher through the gap and stopped the fire from getting worse.

'The fire brigade said if had it been left much longer it would have spread into the timber frame.'

Two fire engines from Newhaven attended the scene. Fortunately, no one was in the hall when the fire started.

The damage was estimated at 200.

Readers who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area of the church hall around the time of the fire can call police on 0845 6070999.

l The St Michael's Church annual confirmation service with Holy Communion will take place on October 6, at 6.30pm. The service will be conducted by the Rt Rev Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes.