A blaze in an old furniture factory may have been started deliberately, firefighters said today.

Six fire crews fought the fire at the disused Jaycee Furniture factory in Woodingdean yesterday afternoon.

Assistant Divisional Officer Pat Scott said an investigating officer had looked at the scene and believed the fire had been started deliberately.

He said: "We are liaising with the police and their scenes of crime officers."

Police closed Bexhill Road to traffic during the blaze, which took place at about 6pm, and Falmer Road was closed for an hour.