ARSONISTS are believed to have wrecked aircraft worth hundreds of thousands of pounds after a blaze at a village flying club near Norwich today.The blaze, which took about three hours to bring under control, completely destroyed nine light aircraft in a large hangar and wrecked the Felthorpe Flying Group clubhouse.

ARSONISTS are believed to have wrecked aircraft worth hundreds of thousands of pounds after a blaze at a village flying club near Norwich today.

At least ten fire engines were sent to Felthorpe Flying Group at about 4.50am today.

The blaze, which took about three hours to bring under control, completely destroyed nine light aircraft in a large hanger and wrecked the group's clubhouse.

Alan Fines, chairman of the Taverham Road club, said: "On the face of it, it does look like arson.

"There were two separate fires which both started at the same time. We have no electricity here so there is no way it could have started on its own.

"It has wrecked a hanger and the clubhouse and I would say the damage is about £150,000 to £200,000.

"I am gutted about it. We are insured but we will have to wait until the smoke clears to see what we will do next."

The club, which was set up to offer flying to people who could not normally afford it, has been at the site in Felthorpe for 40 years.

It has 20 flying and eight non-flying members and operates on weekday afternoons.

Assistant divisional officer David Lambard, of Norfolk Fire Service, said: "When we arrived the fire was fairly well developed throughout the hanger and we had to be wary of things such as carbon fibre, so we spent a bit of time checking those out before we committed crews in there."