Arsonists are thought to have set fire to a school youth centre which was badly damaged last night.

Firefighters discovered the building ablaze after they were called to St Wilfrid's School, Old Horsham Road, Crawley, shortly after 11pm.

Fire crews from Crawley battled for almost an hour to put out the fire in the school's detached youth wing.

It is not yet known how much of the equipment inside the block, including table tennis and pool tables, will have to be replaced.

The building was heavily damaged by smoke.

The entrance was left badly burnt but firefighters managed to stop flames reaching the rest of the block.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire Brigade said the cause was being investigated by fire investigation officers and the police.

Shortly before the fire three children were seen running from the area.

A firefighter, who did not wish to be named, said the fire was well alight when they arrived.

He said: "All the doorway was burnt out and it went up into the roof void. We saved their Christmas tree which was right next to the door.

"It was all damaged by smoke. There were pool tables and table tennis tables inside."

The firefighter said he did not know what the organisers of the youth wing were going to do but he did not think the building was beyond repair.

Sector fire inspector for Crawley Kevin Jemmett said: "We have got a scenes of crime person going there this morning so we are still treating it as suspicious.

"The caretaker reported someone saw three kids running away shortly before the fire and we are looking at it as a possible arson."

Mr Jemmett said the centre was part of the youth service in Crawley and run by West Sussex County Council.

It was a place where children could meet their friends.

He said there were a number of youth wings across the town that were on school grounds, although they were not run by the school.

Representatives for St Wilfrid's School's youth wing were unavailable for comment.