EMERGENCY SERVICES STAY AWAY FROM FIREWORKS SITE

The decision has been made because of safety issues at the site between Ringmer and Halland.

The fireworks depot and surrounding buildings were wrecked in the blasts on Sunday afternoon. Two fire brigade workers died.

EOD, bomb disposal, aim to use a remote control video to study the cylinders on the site. There are about 20 cylinders. These need to be cooled for 24 hours to make safe.

The only casualty remaining at hospital is a 39-year-old man from Uckfield.

He was a passerby at the time of the blast. He suffered chest injuries and has had facial surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. His son, aged 23, suffered minor cuts.

The police sergeant has had surgery on his leg and is leaving hospital today.

Sussex Police, Health and Safety Executive and ESFRS are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the fire and of the deaths.

*FIREFIGHTERS made a considered judgement to be so close to the fire at Ringmer yesterday afternoon

Des Pritchard, the county's chief fire officer, said: 'The team made a judgement appropriate to the situation and would have carried out a thorough assessment before moving in closer.

'This was an escalating incident.

The nature of a firefighter's job is that they occasionally will put themselves in a dangerous situation that perhaps the other emergency services would not.'

He also described to a press conference in Ringmer how badly affected the service had been.

'This is a difficult time for all staff in the fire and rescue service.

'It is, of course, a very difficult time for the families who have lost loved ones.

'To lose two of our colleagues clearly has impacted on my officers who consider themselves to be as family.

'Some of those who were on the scene at the time and had to assist in the recovery of their colleagues have been very traumatised.

'These are not faceless members of staff. I known the two people and this hurts me too.'