A man has been left devastated after a fire ripped through a Cheam community centre project in what he suspects was an arson attack.

Yourspace.sutton was severely damaged by the blaze after emergency services were called at around 2am on January 12.

The building was “totally destroyed” alongside an office, volunteer room and the outside-in tearoom.

But since then more than £3,500 has been raised in crowdfunding to help rebuild what has been lost since the incident at the time of publishing.

Yourspace.sutton’s community project manager Kevin Plicio discovered the damage when he woke up that morning.

 

In a Facebook post he said: “I can’t find the right words to express what I feel but I regret to announce that a fire last night has set back progress of the Yourspace.sutton community vision.

“Right now all I want to do is express my sympathies to all of the volunteers and contributors over the last few years who have all help me shape it.

“Things such as volunteer-made wooden models and artwork of nature murals are just a tiny victim of the blaze, but which I am equally devastated for.

“I know also how many local visitors and supporters of what we have slowly achieved will be equally saddened by the impact of the fire, and all I can say is sorry at the moment.

“[And it] looks like there were intruders and vandalism responsible.”

 

Mr Plicio, who set up Yourspace.sutton in 2011, claimed suspected intruders caused “unmeasurable” damage – allegedly going through sheds, slashing polytunnel skins and ripping open dummy wrapped Christmas presents of empty cardboard boxes.

He also said they “torched the temporary building housing, the tearoom and office at our community project”.

However, he has also praised efforts from the community to raise money following the news, describing the support as “overwhelming”.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said they sent four fire engines and around 25 firefighters to the scene that day.

A single-storey timber building was destroyed by the fire, alongside a small part of another single-storey timber building which was damaged.

He added there were no reports of any injuries.

The brigade was called shortly after 2am and the blaze was deemed under control at 3.30am, with crews from New Malden, Sutton and Wimbledon at the scene.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said they were called at around 2.30am to reports of a fire and officers attended alongside the brigade.

She added the force is investigating the incident alongside the brigade, though the cause of the fire has not yet been established.

To see the JustGiving, click here.