AN investigation was under way today into a blaze yesterday which swept through seven beach huts at Calshot and caused damage estimated at tens of thousands of pounds.

Police were also looking into a series of break-ins and one attempted arson at six huts further along the beach.

The fire was spotted in a line of large residential beach huts at Calshot's western end, but it was believed that it had started in just one hut.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service sent about 40 firefighters to the scene after Hampshire County Council highways supervisor Paul Monk, who was in the area at the time, dialled 999.

Mr Monk said: "I smelt smoke and then saw it billowing across and went to the cliff above the huts and there was one on fire at the time."

Fire crews from Hythe, Hardley, Beaulieu, Redbridge, Totton, Lyndhurst and Southamp-ton attended with the Lyndhurst water carrier ferrying in supplies of water from a hydrant on a nearby housing estate.

Leading firefighter Colin Burford said that when they arrived they were faced with 55mph winds fanning flames on to other huts.

He also pointed out that they were helped by Cadland Estate worker Ron Kitcher and his son Andrew who used a tractor to pull one of the huts out of the line and create a fire-break which stopped it from spreading further.

Beach hut owner David Jones from Southampton, whose hut was not among the ones burned or broken into, said: "They have broken into about six huts and have done quite a lot of damage."

He pointed out one hut where there were the clear remains of a small fire on the floor.

As the investigation got under way, a Hythe police spokesman said: "We are definitely treating it as suspicious and are keen to hear from anyone who saw people on the beach late morning or early afternoon yesterday."