A LEADING councillor has vowed the Basingstoke Labour Party will bounce back after fire tore through its South Ham club.

The suspected arson attack saw 30 years of history go up in smoke and completely gutted the ground floor of the extended popular social club used by many families in the community.

The first floor, used as the headquarters of the Basingstoke Labour Party, suffered severe smoke damage.

Sean Keating, deputy leader of the local Labour Party and borough councillor for South Ham, said: "The Labour Party will bounce back and overcome this setback.

"The recovery starts today with the setting up of meetings to plan for the future."

He added that in one form or another, the club would definitely be back again in the community.

A police spokeswoman, who confirmed no-one was inside the club at the time, said: "The cause of the fire is as yet unknown, but police are treating it as suspicious as inquiries continue."

It took firefighters nearly three hours to put out the blaze, which started on Tuesday at around 5pm. Two appliances were still at the scene early next morning.

Charlie Rayner, president of the Labour Party club, said: "It's devastating when you've worked so long building the club up. Thirty years I've worked for this place and now it's gone.

"It's not just a drinking house - it's part of South Ham. Most of the residents use the place."

Basingstoke Labour Club was not only used by the Labour Party for all their meetings and administrations, but also by the local community for bingo evenings, dancing, table tennis, charity events and socialising.

The games room had only been painted last week as part of the club's refurbishment plans for the lounge and ceiling.

A 45-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the fire and subsequently released on police bail.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the vicinity of the club between 3pm and 5pm on Tuesday is urged to contact Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.