A fire at a primary school is being treated as arson and two teenage boys have been arrested.

Fire and smoke billowed from the roof of Carden Primary School in Hollingbury on Monday evening.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the school fire which heavily damaged sections of the school.

Now, a 13 year old and 15 year old have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

The fire started at around 7.15pm and is believed to have been started deliberately.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "A lot of people are thought to have been in the area at the time and police are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or who witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the vicinity before or after the fire started.

"They would particularly like to speak to anyone who may have captured any relevant CCTV, doorbell, or dash cam footage from the surrounding roads.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 1271 of 07/08."

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The teenage boys have been taken into custody.

The fire comes weeks after the school broke up for the summer holidays and shortly before the school is due to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

The Argus: Fire at Carden Primary SchoolFire at Carden Primary School (Image: Ellie Hughes)

The school previously also suffered a fire in 2011.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "We were called to a fire on County Oak Avenue, Brighton at 7.13pm.

“We had four appliances in attendance from Preston Circus, Hove and Roedean.

“Crews used four breathing apparatus, one main jet and one aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire.”