Police stepped up their hunt for firebugs today after another serious arson attack in Brighton.

A sports pavilion at Patcham Recreation Ground was destroyed in the early hours, two days after a Scout hut was torched in nearby Vale Avenue. Police believe the two are connected and they issued an urgent appeal for witnesses.

Today's blaze, opposite the Black Lion Hotel on the A23, broke out at 2am and flames were bursting through the roof as firefighters arrived. Crews spent an hour bringing the fire under control and investigators were at the scene later, sifting through charred debris looking for clues.

There were signs the building had been broken into before an inflammable liquid, possibly petrol, was poured round rooms and set ablaze. On Tuesday, firefighters spent two hours tackling an arson attack on the 30th Brighton Scout Group hut in Vale Avenue, Patcham.