People were spotted on the roof of the Leatherhead football pavilion moments before it was destroyed by fire.

The brand new pavilion, built with part of a £125,000 Football Foundation grant, was gutted by fire last Thursday morning.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing and arson has not been ruled out.

Eight fire engines were called to the fire which quickly spread to the adjoining Bridge Youth Centre, damaging the roof and sending flames and plumes of black smoke into the air.

For a time, parts of Kingston Road were engulfed by smoke.

People living close to the wrecked youth club spoke of people being seen on the roof of the club shortly before the fire broke out.

Local community groups including disabled theatre group The Freewheelers who use The Bridge on Monday and Tuesdays, have been temporarily relocated to the nearby community centre.

Work started on the football pavilion last summer and has only recently been completed. It was officially opened in April by Casey Stoney, a member of the women’s Chelsea and England football teams.

Some people fear that it could be copycat attack - a pavilion in Bookham was destroyed by fire a few weeks ago.

A teenage girl has been arrested and was released on police bail.

Dave Parr, Mole Valley’s corporate head of service for environment, said: “A fire at the football pavilion in Kingston Road, Leatherhead, started in the early hours of Thursday morning.

"At present the cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated by the Fire Brigade.

"The pavilion was opened on April 17 following a large effort from the community and the council is dismayed at the loss of an important public facility.

"The council’s priority is to make the site safe and then start to work with the community to replace the pavilion as soon as possible.”

Councillor David Sharland, portfolio holder for health, safety and wellbeing who was also a key player in the ceremony to open the pavilion, said: “it is devastating - very sad..”

The pavilion was built with a grant from the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity to provide facilities and encourage youngsters to take up the sport.

The Football Foundation is funded the Premier League, the Football Association (FA) and the Government and is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, and constructing modern facilities.

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