POLICE are treating a fire that wrecked part of a community centre on a Canterbury estate as arson.

Two fire crews put out the blaze at St Stephen's Community Centre in Tenterden Drive at about 12.40am on Wednesday.

No one was hurt but the damage is estimated at many thousands of pounds and will take months to repair.

Several groups use the centre, including a veterans association and Surestart family support group.

St Stephen's Community Association chair Bill Turner, described the incident as "the worst day in 20 years."

A wedding due to be hosted at the centre on Saturday has been cancelled and left the couple with a frantic search for another location.

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