A FIRE ripped through a political group’s headquarters.

Police deemed the blaze “suspicious” as they investigated the incident and have since declared it was started deliberately.

Fire crews rushed to the scene in Bohemia Road on Tuesday evening after receiving reports of a blaze on the first floor of a building, the Hastings and Rye Labour group’s headquarters.

Just hours earlier a meeting had been held at the property.

Fire engines and police cars filled the road and crews turned hoses on the building to fight the blaze.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said: “At 10.17pm firefighters from The Ridge in Hastings and Bexhill attended a fire at a commercial property on Bohemia Road, St Leonards.

“Crews used hoses to extinguish the fire and all persons were accounted for.”

But the Hastings and Rye Labour group confirmed that only a small number of people were in the building when the fire started and police reported there had been no injuries as a result of the incident.

A spokesman for the group said: “The Labour Party headquarters in Bohemia Road is out of action after a fire at the building on March 10.

“Police are treating it as suspicious.

“There had been a meeting at the building earlier, but there were only a few people there when the fire was detected.

“No one was hurt and the Labour Party is very grateful to the emergency services for their prompt response.

“We are are saying nothing further at the stage while the police carry out their investigations.”

He later confirmed that police have said the fire was started deliberately.

Police cars remained outside the building until the following morning as enquiries continued.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “About 10.20pm on Tuesday March 10, police and firefighters responded to a fire on the first floor of a building in Bohemia Road, Hastings.

“Firefighters made the building safe within minutes and no injuries were reported.

“The incident is being treated as suspicious and anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 1385 of 10/03.”

The Hastings and Rye Labour group Facebook page has more than 4,000 followers and the group hosts regular events.

Recent campaigns included Chart, The Connecting Hastings and Rother Together project, which aims to help the most deprived communities in the Hastings and Bexhill area.