Community groups in Bicester were left without a meeting place after the building they used was badly damaged by a fire early today.

The roof of the Southwold Community Association Hall collapsed leaving the building unusable.

No-one was hurt in the incident, but a police investigation is under way to discover the cause of the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.

The hall, just behind Bicester Community College in Holm Square on the Southwold Estate was used by several local community groups including The Bubbles Pre-School Nursery.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey building at 3am after nearby residents saw the building blazing. They brought the blaze under control and were today working to secure what was left of the building against further collapse.

Building control officers were due to visit the scene later today.