HERTIAGE centre volunteers are preparing to host an open day months after their home at a library was the victim of an arson attack.

Bata Heritage Centre volunteers, whose base in East Tilbury Library, in Princess Avenue was destroyed in January in a "deliberate" blaze after a car was reversed into the building and set alight at 4.20am in the morning.

Two crews from Grays and one crew from Orsett were called to a fire in Princess Avenue, East Tilbury at 4.20am.

Despite setbacks caused by the arson attack on East Tilbury library in early January the Bata Heritage Centre volunteers will be at East Tilbury Scout Group’s hall, in Princess Margaret Road on Wednesday,April 26 at 10am.

There will be a guided tour at 12pm (£3.00 per person) around the Bata Estate by volunteers including the well-known local historian Mike Ostler.

A spokesman for the group said: "We are all doing our best to keep “business as usual” and are currently arranging professional help for the restoration of our unique collection."