Great Yarmouth bug hotel fire being treated as arson

A fire at a bug hotel in Great Yarmouth is being treated as arson.

Crews were called to Buggingham Palace next to the town's Sea Life Centre just after 6:53pm on Monday (18 September).

The hotel - a community project housing numerous insects - was destroyed in the blaze.

The Sea Life Centre was not damaged, and no one was reported injured.

Nathan Barnett, the Centre's General Manager, says CCTV images showed six teenagers - three boys and three girls - were seen nearby at the time of the fire.

He said footage had been passed to the police.

Mr Barnett added the fire was "quite sad to see."

"A lot of time and effort had gone into this project and it was about putting something back into the community and helping the local environment," he said.

"We're going to clean the site down, we're going to salvage what we can from there and we're going to put out a bit of a help message to any local businesses that want to help and get involved and rebuild this bug hotel to show that we won't be defeated by the careless acts of some youths in the local area."

A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to assist the fire service with a suspected arson at 6.53pm on Monday on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth.

"The fire was put out and no-one was injured.

"This is being treated as arson.

"Inquiries are ongoing."