FIRE chiefs have warned people not to set fire to wood washed up on Sussex beaches.

The call comes after a series of fires started by late night revellers.

Firefighters tackled a blaze on the beach near the King Alfred, Hove, on Saturday at 2am.

Drunken revellers are believed to have piled up wood from the wrecked ship The Ice Prince.

They built wigwam-shaped pyres and then set fire to them.

David Statham, Hove fire station watch manager, said the revellers are risking serious injury.

He said: "We think people on their way home from a night out are responsible.

"They pile the wood up into wigwams and then set fire to it.

"If they have had a bit to drink it is obviously not a very good idea to be setting fire to things.

"The burning wood collapses in on itself and anyone whose reactions are affected by alcohol could get hurt.

"We have had quite a number of these calls since the wood washed up on the beaches in January.

"Usually, the people responsible disappear when they see us arriving.

"But we would urge them not to do this as somebody could quite easily get hurt."