Arsonists may have started a fire which broke out at a football club in Hastings today.

Firefighters were called at 6am to tackle the blaze at St Leonards Football Club, Elphinstone Road.

A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing flames shooting from the porch, which adjoins the main clubhouse.

However, a steel door prevented the fire from spreading to the clubhouse, which is stocked with thousands of pounds' worth of equipment, games and a bar.

Twelve firefighters spent less than an hour bringing the blaze under control.

Sub Officer Richard Hurst, of Bohemia fire station, said: "It was developing nicely when we arrived but as luck would have it, it was contained to a small annex which adjoins the clubhouse.

"There was a good barrier between the two but luckily somebody spotted the fire before it could spread - otherwise there would have been an awful lot of damage."

A club spokesman said there was no question of matches being cancelled and insisted the clubhouse would remain operational.

A brigade spokesman said: "We extinguished the fire fairly quickly, however the cause is being treated as suspicious.

"There was a small amount of smoke and heat damage to the clubhouse."

Scenes of crime officers and a fire brigade investigation officer were looking into the blaze this morning.