A SCOUT group has been left reeling today by a fire which destroyed boats, trailers and sailing equipment.

Vandals have been blamed for starting the fire which ripped through the boathouse extension at 5th Gosport Sea Scout Group's St Luke's Road HQ at about 4am.

Highly-inflammable fibreglass vessels, repair materials and fuel for outboard motors caused the flames to spread quickly. The roof caved in first and plastic canoes and dinghies melted in the intense heat.

The extension was built about five years ago after many years of fundraising.

Group chairman Barry Martin said: "I'm shocked. It's a terrible blow. I don't know how we're going to recover. We will, obviously, but the lads will be heartbroken.

"Sweat, blood and tears have gone into this extension. The lads had just finished making a dinghy seaworthy. Again this was through weeks of hard work.

"We had canoes, sailing dinghies and lifejackets stored in the hut. It's mostly destroyed and the hut severely damaged. The only mercy is that the fire brigade saved the adjoining hall. At least we still have somewhere to meet. It's hard to believe one or two stupid people with nothing constructive to do have spoiled hundreds of hours of hard work in a few minutes.''

Gosport fire service spokesman David Stephens said: "The only possible cause is non-accidental.''