POLICE have launched an appeal for witnesses to an arson attack which gutted a building in the old Biggin Hill RAF base, leaving extensive damage to the former officers' mess, in Main Road, opposite Biggin Hill Airport.

Biggin Hill Fire station was alerted at 5.54pm after smoke was seen coming from the building.

It took almost an hour for 20 firefighters to put out the flames at the disused building, which is owned by a housing association.

A police spokesman said: “The culprits gained entry via the ground floor door. There is evidence of a fire being started at this point.

“Once inside the building, they started another fire in the main hall area.”

“We are looking for anyone who witnessed the attack or saw people acting suspiciously in the afternoon.”

If you have information about the September 15 incident, call Detective Sergeant Bob Panton at Bromley police station on 020 8284 8720 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.