ELECTRICAL FAULT MAY HAVE STARTED FIRE

The Health and Safety Executive said: 'An inspector is ready to start an investigation. There are many reasons why this fire could have started and early speculation has pointed towards an electrical fault that may have been responsible for the fire.'

A member of the family that owns Festival Fireworks said he was not sure of the cause of the fire

'All I know was that work was going on ready for a display," Jason Winter told Sky News.

He is a nephew of the family that owns the business.

He said family members were OK.

'They are fine. They are OK. There were no injuries or incidents regarding families.

'No-one has gone anywhere near it. That is why it is burning,' he said last night (Sunday).

'My family have lost everything.

'They have lost the house, they have lost garages, offices, all the buildings, their vehicles, their lorries even down to their guinea pig.

'It is just like a bomb site.

'They are leaving it to burn. That is what they have told us. They are not prepared to risk anyone going in.

'No emergency services are going anywhere near the blaze.'

'It is so sad to see my family's business go up in smoke.'

He said the business had been operating legally and without problems for 20 years.

He pointed out it was in a rural area.

' A few cottages have had minor damage to them; windows blown out, Mr Winter said.

Jeremy Paine, assistant chief constable of Sussex Police, said:

'Shortly before two o clock this afternoon (Sunday) emergency services were called to the Marlie farm.

'Just under an hour later there was a large explosion.

'Tragically two members of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were killed in that explosion.

'Another 12 people were injured - nine members of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue, two members of the public and a police sergeant.

'They all went to hospital.

'Some have been released and some are still at hospital.

'There is a 200m cordon around the factory and the advice from the fire and rescue service is that the fire is going to be allowed to burn for a while because there is some concern around some acetylene tanks that may be present.

'We are conducting a full investigation as to the background and circumstances of this event. That's the police, health and safety and the fire and rescue service.'