Fire destroys large area of woodland

The blaze was discovered at approximately 4pm by a dog walker who called the emergency services.

Locals gathered to watch the flames while waiting for East Sussex Fire and Rescue to arrive and one Bexhill resident, Miss J Gilbert, took photographs.

Miss Gilbert said: "I was out walking in the woods with my granddad.

There was a fire engine at the entrance of the woods and then we saw billowing smoke and flames. It wasn't possible for the fire engine to enter the woods where the fire was, and the firemen had to gain access on foot."

She added: "There were loads of people gathering with dogs but there was nothing we could do and we didn't want to hang around. I had my camera with me and took some photographs."

Watch Commander at Bexhill fire station, Andy Upton said it was not the easiest of fires for them to attend and it took them a five hours to ensure the fire was completely out.

He said: "Quite a lot of woodland was burned, approximately two hundred square metres. We had to use beaters and a light portable pump, which we had to carry for about half a mile and we used a nearby pond for water."

He added: "Woodland ground is quite peaty and fire burns into the peat, we had to dig quite deep to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. The fire service were there until 9pm."