A272 gas cylinder explosion update: ‘The road was on fire’

A272 lorry fire. Photo A272 by Haywards Heath watchmanager Matthew Myerscough

The vehicle was carrying seven portable gas cylinders with several exploding setting the lorry ‘well alight’.

No one is believed to have been injured in the fire and the road has been closed in both directions.

It is set to be shut overnight due to the damage caused to the tarmac.

Azra Hall, from Copsale, was driving home at the time and was caught up in the panic.

She said: “I was on my way back from a hospital appointment and the road was on fire. There was big black smoke everywhere.

“Tonnes and tonnes of fire engines and cars with flashing lights I have never seen before pulled up.

“When I was driving along I thought it must have been a house on fire. We were all very confused, we didn’t know what was going on.

“We had stopped and this lady said to me that the white lines were on fire. I just thought I better get out of here I didn’t want to cause any more confusion.

“As I was trying to get back home fire engines and police cars were coming from all over the place.

“If I had been behind it that would have been really scary. It is going to be a nightmare on the roads now.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

We are always the first with your local news. Be part of it.