A bug hotel called 'Buggingham Palace' has been burnt down in a suspected arson attack.

The shelter, built for insects as part of a community project on the grounds of the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth, was destroyed in a blaze at around 6.45pm on Monday (September 18).

Norfolk Police said the incident is being treated as arson and that inquiries are ongoing.

Nathan Barnett, general manager of Sea Life Great Yarmouth, said:  "Both the team and I were a bit shocked to see this morning that Buggingham Hotel had been burned down.

"It's a bit disappointing really. It's just a senseless act of vandalism, it just ruins everything for everybody else."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The bug hotel at the Sea Life Centre was built as part of a community project. The bug hotel at the Sea Life Centre was built as part of a community project. (Image: Sea Life Centre Great Yarmouth)

He said that CCTV of the incident shows six teenagers, three males and three females, some still in school uniform.

One of the teenagers is seen taking out a lighter and setting fire to the bug hotel, then running off, he said. 

Mr Barnett added that the fire could have been a lot worse, as the bug hotel was located close to the Sea Life Centre building.

“A lot of time and effort had gone into this project and it was about putting something back into the community and helping the local environment," he said. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A bug hotel called Buggingham Palace, at the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack on September 18. A bug hotel called Buggingham Palace, at the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack on September 18. (Image: Sea Life Centre Great Yarmouth)

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"We're going to rebuild it. We're not going to let this get us down. It will come back bigger, better and stronger."

Mr Barnett said the centre will now put a call out to local businesses for donations of materials including pallets and bedding to build a new shelter.

Sea Life said it was difficult to say how many bugs had been living in the shelter as it had only been up for four weeks, but they would have expected species such as woodlice, spiders, butterflies, lady birds, ear wigs, snails, worms and ants to have made a home there as more time passed.

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A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to assist the fire service with a suspected arson at 6.53pm on Monday on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth.

“The fire was put out and no-one was injured.

“This is being treated as arson.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”