A project set up to help the community in Coalville has been devastated by a fire at its base in Holly Hayes Woods in Whitwick.

The blaze happened early Sunday morning, totally destroying the buildings.

Community leaders believe the fire may have been started deliberately but Leicestershire Police say enquiries are ongoing.

The effect of the blaze has been described as 'emotional' as a year's worth effort was ruined in a few hours.

But organisers say there is a knock-on effect with homeless and unemployed people among those working on the project.

The MD of Coalville Education Partnership, Jason Knibbs, told Coalville Nub News that talks will take place to see if the project can continue - and anyone who can potentially offer funding is being urged to come forwards.

Jason said: "The destruction is massive, absolutely massive, everything that we've set up there is gone, we've lost it all.

"The key thing is that everyone who works at Holly Hayes with the CEP are veterans, young kickstarters and are all based around Coalville.

"It's emotional for us.

"This really is a community project, we take young people who've been excluded from school, we take kids' groups, we do activities with young people in the evenings, the whole things about Holly Hayes is for the community to maintain that.

"We've been getting it ready as an open area for interaction and social stuff which is something, within the pandemic, has been much needed.

"I've now got to look at whether I can afford to carry on the project, whether I can afford to staff it, it's a huge dent and a huge loss."

Jason gave details of the damage and how it might allegedly have been caused.

He added: "We have a tenancy in Holly Hayes. What we have is a compound up there. It's a metal enclosed, with a metal pitched roof on, so it's a deliberate act.

"They've had to get inside the compound through the roof, which is maybe eight feet off the floor.

"They've got into the compound, and then set off two different fires within the compound.

"For us, it's about the massive impact on the community.

"We built a welfare toilets up there, there is a caged compound and buildings used for equipment storage.

"The only thing left standing is the burnt metal and that's all twisted."

Aside from trying to find the culprits, Jason says the business aspects of the project need addressing immediately.

He added: "We're running a business community project, and now we've got to start planning business again within the most difficult aspects of the current pandemic.

"We'll have to sit with the directors to see if there is a viable option going forward.

"CEP has been running for around five years and the Holly Hayes project has been going for around a year.

"We don't earn that much money, we could all go out and work in schools, earn three times more than we do, it's not just a financial, we are genuinely here to serve the benefit of the community.

"Sometimes is to the detriment of the business.

"But underneath all that, we've employed two local people in the last three weeks, one is homeless and one was unemployed, we're trying to improve things for local young people give them the skills for the community to benefit.

"That's the bit that really annoying, business is business, but this is all about peoples lives.

"It's the felling season now, so we've cut down all the dangerous trees, we've been scraping the pathways and getting the drainage done. We'd been trying to restore Holly Hayes so that it's a community asset."

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "Around 10am on Sunday, 28 February, officers were called by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service to assist in dealing with a fire at Holly Hayes Wood, Whitwick.

"A shipping containing used as a public toilet had been deliberately set alight.

"No injuries were reported and enquiries are ongoing."

A post on the CEP Facebook page posted on Sunday reads: "Students, staff and volunteers have been working hard in Holly Hayes woods.

"Last night, the welfare units which house the equipment needed and the toilet block, built by community members, were deliberately set on fire.

"Who is affected? - Students attending woodland for qualifications.

"Veterans and volunteers who have put time and skills into the woods. Staff at CEP.

"Students on work related employment opportunities with CEP put at risk.

"Planned kids activities supported by local young people and veterans.

"Pathway maintenance and the felling of the unsafe trees which benefit the many visitors will have to be postponed or stopped.

"CEP would like to thank Leicestershire Fire and Rescue and Leicestershire Police for their work and support today."