Arsonists in Haywards Heath are being blamed for a third attack on Woolworths in five years which left the store and a nearby church damaged.

Bins behind the store in South Road were set alight in the early hours of yesterday, spreading fire to a back storeroom.

Flames licked at the side of the adjacent United Reform Church, damaging the windows of four rooms used as a Sunday school.

Church treasurer Rob Drake, 55, of Lindfield said: "The service went ahead as usual yesterday. The congregation was clearly surprised that this had happened again. Just a few years ago, we had to replace windows because they were damaged by fire in similar circumstances.

"The whole church could have gone up in flames. We were very lucky really."

The affected rooms are used as classrooms for children during the Sunday service and by groups during the week, including a chess club.

Mr Drake said the groups will have to use other rooms in the church until the windows are replaced.

Despite the drama, it was business as usual for Woolworths yesterday.

A spokeswoman said: "There was major damage to the back wall of the storeroom, but we are trading as normal and are working with police to find out the cause of the fire."

Twenty firefighters from Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill worked for five hours to put out the fire and ventilate the Woolworths shop-floor.

An aerial ladder platform from Horsham was also used to douse the flames.

Leading firefighter Nick Fraser, based at Haywards Heath said: "A fire investigation officer is looking into the cause, which is likely to have been arson."