An operatic group has vowed to continue despite a fire wrecking costumes, props and its rehearsal room just weeks before the opening night.

Crawley Operatic Society will perform Singing In The Rain at Crawley's Hawth theatre at the end of next month.

Despite the fire, which also destroyed musical instruments, a dance floor and tap shoes, members have vowed to stage the show.

Director Heather Kemeys said she was devastated by the blaze, which destroyed a wooden hut yesterday morning.

Handmade props will have to be replaced along with the society's costume collection, which dates back 50 years.

Mrs Kemeys said: "I was shocked when I heard what had happened. We were so proud of our club house.

"When we got the building about a decade ago it was a shell.

"We laid a special dance floor, put up huge mirrors for rehearsals and decorated the walls with pictures and posters from our shows of the past 40 years.

"There was a whole room of props and costumes as well as a piano and keyboard."

The group, which put on its first show, HMS Pinafore, in 1958, says the 30m by 15m wooden hut at the Tilgate Recreation Centre, off the A23, was completely gutted in the blaze, which started at 2.15am.

Firefighters managed to stop the 30ft flames spreading to other huts, which are used by scouts, sports and music societies.

But hut 22, belonging to the society, was completely destroyed and firefighters stayed at the scene all night in case any wood reignited.

The only item salvaged was a metal cashbox.

Mrs Kemeys said: "We are now looking for somewhere else to practise. Hopefully the council will be able to help us.

"We'll have to rebuild the scenery and remake the costumes and hire the rest. It's going to be a lot of work but we are lucky it happened now and not a week before the show."

The group has been preparing for the musical since October.

The cast, including leading man Stephen Hall, have learnt tap-dancing, although it is feared most of the ten pairs of tap shoes have been destroyed in the fire.

Mrs Kemeys said the hut had been broken into about a month earlier and vandals had smashed doors and a mirror as well as setting off a fire extinguisher.

She said: "It's very sad from a sentimental point of view. There was a lot of history stored in the hut and it was a fantastic meeting place."

A spokeswoman for Crawley Borough Council said it was too early to say if the hut would be rebuilt.

She said: "We're desperately sorry this has happened. The group is well established and are first-class performers.

"We will do our best to help it find somewhere to rehearse until a permanent solution can be found."

Anyone who can help the society find rehearsal space should call 01293 521949.

A Sussex Police spokesman said anyone with information about the fire should call 0845 6070999.