AN investigation is under way today into a blaze which has left hundreds of Hampshire youths without a sports hall.

Firefighters were called to the Queen Elizabeth II Sports Hall in Blackfield at 4am yesterday but the building burned down before the fire could be controlled.

Before they could even fight the blaze the firefighters from Hardley, Hythe and Beaulieu stations had to wait for the building's electricity and gas supplies to be switched off.

And the nearest fire hydrant was in Hampton Lane more than 300 metres from the hall.

Councillors and users of the hall thought teenage vandals were almost certainly to blame.

The site has been targeted by arsonists a number of times in the past two years.

Malcolm Fiddler, New Forest District councillor for the area, said: "I'm pretty certain it was vandals."

He said he picked up litter there twice daily and often found aerosol cans which had been used to start fires.

He said: "It's a shame losing all these facilities. How long is it going to take to get them back?"

Fawley Parish councillor Eddie Holtham said: "This is something we've expected for years but it's sad now it's come. The sports hall is a focal point of Blackfield."

Cllr Holtham said it was almost impossible the blaze was an accident because no one had used the hall the day before.

"There have been constant attacks for a long time,'' he said.

The football pitches, which he said were "some of the best around", could still be used although yesterday morning teams had to use a nearby store building as a makeshift changing room.

The local Scout hut has also been offered for use by the teams which use the grounds including Holbury United, the Fawley Falcons, Travellers Rest and Hythe Hotspurs.

Hythe Dragons Kickboxing Club was also left "devastated" because it lost £5,000 worth of equipment in the fire.

Antonia Weeks, duty inspector for Hampshire police, said: "If there's any doubts as to the cause there will be an investigation."