CHIDDINGFOLD'S bonfire was burned to the ground in a suspected arson attack on Wednesday morning – a month to the day before it was due to be lit.

The setback has ruined the hours of work put in by volunteers but, like a phoenix from the ashes, organisers have pledged that the annual fireworks and bonfire event will still go on.

Arsonists have been blamed for the fire which raged on the village green for hours and destroyed efforts to prepare for the popular event, which attracts thousands from across the Haslemere area.

Fireighters from Dunsfold were called to Chiddingfold at 5 am when a passer by spotted the bonfire alight.

Villagers living near the green did what they could to limit the blaze and poured water on it until firefighters arrived.

"It was well alight when we arrived on the scene," said sub officer Nick Drane from Dunsfold fire station.

The firefighters brought the blaze under control and enlisted the help of farmer Neville Cherriman to extinguish it completely.

Mr Cherriman used a telehander – a farm materials hander – to move unaffected and burnt wood from the centre of the fire.

"First of all I moved the items from the fire that had not been burned and then I moved the burnt embers so the fire brigade could hose them down," he explained.

Firefighters eventually left the scene of the devastation almost five hours after receiving the emergency call.

Sub officer Drane told The Herald: "A lot of hard work, effort and sweat have gone into this and it has gone up in smoke.

"It is such a shame, especially when the cause of the fire is suspicious."

He was supported by Mr Cherriman who added: "It is such a shame that everyone's hard work has been spoiled by vandals."

Surrey Police has confirmed that it was notified by the fire service about the suspicious fire and is investigating its cause.

The chairman of the bonfire committee Richard Hogsflesh, told The Herald that volunteers had been working hard for the past few weeks on getting the bonfire ready for the November 5 celebrations.

He said that the bonfire was already about a third built and that volunteers had already spent the past two Saturdays working on it – but would now have to double their efforts.

"Fortunately the tripod is OK and was relatively undamaged," he said.

"I think we will have to put even more work into it now and built it up on the weekends until the bonfire is ready.

"We are still going ahead with it and if there is anyone else who would like to give us an extra hand, it would be appreciated."

Mr Hogsflesh said that Wednesday was not the first time that the bonfire had been lit too early, but it was still disappointing for volunteers.

"As far as I know, this has happened twice before in 1972 and 1928, so it is not something new, but it is such a shame."

Chiddingfold residents were shocked at the news as word spread and the smell of the fire filtered across the village.

Many who spoke to The Herald were angry that someone had tried to ruin the celebrations but vowed to work hard to put on a good show next month.

This year's celebration, which marks the 400th anniversary of the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot, will include a procession of 400 torches, a fireworks display, the lighting of a rebuilt bonfire, plus entertainment and stalls.

Anyone who would like to donate items for the bonfire, or who would like to help build it, is asked to contact Richard Hogsflesh on 077780300 317.

More information about the bonfire night on November 5 can be found at http://www.chiddingfoldbonfire.org.uk">www.chiddingfoldbonfire.org.uk