AN INVESTIGATION into a suspected arson has been launched after a museum office was damaged by a blaze.

Firefighters from Ferndown and Springbourne attended the Bournemouth Aviation Museum site opposite Bournemouth Airport on Tuesday morning and extinguished the fire, which involved an office space in a container unit.

Brian Butson, trustee of the museum, said: "As with any mindless act, this does have some kind of impact.

"People volunteer and give their time for the museum.

"We live in a world where the type of people who do these mindless things exist.

"There is an active police investigation. We will assist police in any way we can to apprehend the perpetrators or perpetrator.

"We remain open for business and there is no impact on the public coming to visit the museum."

Volunteer Rob Ellis: "Something like this affects all of the volunteers involved and it is heartbreaking.

"We all give our time to run the museum and inspire the next generation to try and get them into engineering."

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We received a report at 8.52am on Tuesday, January 28, from the fire service that they had attended a fire involving an office in a container building.

"It is believed ignition was suspicious but the fire was out.

"We attended the scene and enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made."

Anyone with information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting 55200013816.