ARSONISTS are being hunted by police after three Hampshire beach huts were destroyed by flames in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Firefighters were called to Calshot beach at 5.30am after reports that the wooden huts were engulfed by a blaze.

Crews from Hardley and Hythe rushed to the scene but despite their best efforts, three of the four huts were destroyed, leaving the other partially damaged.

A joint investigation between police and the fire service has been launched to establish the exact cause of the fire but it is being treated as an arson attack.

This striking image capturing the sheer devastation caused by the fire was taken by Jan Sutton, who owns one of the huts further on up the beach.