Arsonists burned out a van at Northbrook College's Durrington site last night.

The technician's van was in a car park when they struck at 9.30pm. It was badly damaged and the flames threatened to spread to the college itself.

Heat from the blazing Ford Transit broke windows and smoke seeped into the building.

Heat from the blaze damaged the outside of the college in Littlehampton Road, cracking windows and allowing smoke to seep into the building.

Two fire crews from Worthing were called. Firefighter Peter Sadler said: "The fire is thought to have been malicious."

Doug Hall, premises manager at the college, said: "The van is a total write-off and will have to be replaced.

"The main damage to the building was the cracked windows and smoke damage, which will all have to be sorted out before the students start back on September 10."

At about 10.15pm a second arson attack was carried out on a vehicle in nearby Palatine Road, Goring.