A huge fire which swept through an academy was likely to have been caused by workmen, fireifghters have said.

Around three-quarters of Selsey Academy was destroyed in a huge inferno on Sunday which required 100 firefighters tackling the fire over two days.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said this morning that at the current stage the most likely cause of the fire was "accidental ignition" caused by a workman carrying out maintenance on the roof.

The service said there is no evidence to support online speculation that this was arson.

The first of more than sixty 999 calls made to the Sussex Control Centre was from a roofer to say a partition on the roof was alight at 7.54am on Sunday.

Three crews from Chichester, Selsey, and Bognor arrived within minutes of each other at 8.10, 8.11 and 8.12.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a severe and rapidly developing roof fire being fanned by strong winds.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gavin Watts said: “Unfortunately on this occasion there was little that could be done to stop it spreading so quickly and it is a sad sight to see such a local asset so badly damaged. 

“Thanks to the efforts of the crews we were able to prevent it spreading to all parts of the school however, and I’m particularly pleased there were no injuries reported.

"I’m also glad that we were able to protect the neighbouring properties including the thatched houses that are part of Selsey’s appeal.

“It has been a great shock to the local community and all those people directly involved with the school, but they were tremendous in their support.

"What we hope for now is for the school to recover and the disruption to be kept to a minimum as it is being rebuilt.”