A MAN has been arrested after a barn converted into a dream home was destroyed by a savage fire.

Fire crews were called to Lower Stoneham Farm near Lewes at 3.30am today.

They were confronted with a fire that was consuming the whole of the front of the building.

The owner of the £700,000 home, who had been preparing to move in after recently furnishing the pad, arrived soon after firefighters got to work.

He alerted crews to another fire at a barn just up a track near to where he currently lives.

Steve Oakman, the commanding fire officer on the scene, told The Argus: "The full front of the building on the first floor, along with the left-hand side, was well alight.

"We had the wind fanning it as well.

"Obviously the owner had just been woken up and was absolutely in shock."

Firefighters were still on the scene this morning damping down the smouldering remains with investigators working to establish the cause.

At the height of the blaze there were five fire engines at the scene.

The latest fires follow a blaze on April 19 when crews were called to the same farm.

They tackled a barn blaze that saw timber and sleepers destroyed.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, burglary and possession of cannabis after a barn and a barn conversion were set on fire.

“One was a barn used for agriculture and the other had been converted into a home. No one was in the properties at the time. Fire investigators are looking into how the fire was started.

“Police also received a report of a burglary at a house at Four Winds, Cooksbridge at 5.25am. The occupant confronted a man who broke in through a kitchen window. He then left the house.

"Police carried out a search and a 53-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested nearby. He is in custody for questioning.”

Regarding the previous barn fire on April 19, the spokeswoman added: “A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a barn at Lower Stoneham Farm, Stoneham, Lewes. He was released without further action due to a lack of evidence.”