IT MADE MY BLOOD RUN COLD

Club chairman John Weddell who lives in Piltdown described the sequence of events.

He told the Express: I was driving south along the B2129 past the Wok Inn at about ten to two on Sunday.

'I was just walking into the Club car park when I looked up and saw fireworks going off.

'I thought: 'why fireworks '“ this is an odd time' '“ but carried on walking, then thought 'this is not just fireworks, this is something nasty.'

'I immediately rang the emergency services but I think they had already been alerted as I could hear sirens.

'Various people arrived and we started our meeting but round about 3pm there was this ginormous explosion and a huge mushroom cloud.

'I thought this is jolly bad news, particularly as we all knew the emergency services were at the site.

'It made my blood run cold.

'We hurried through what we had to do then I drove off south and by this time the police had already set up a road block.

'We are able to access the airfield at present by explaining to police on the cordon where we are going but we are obviously telling members to avoid the area.

'We are all desperately sad to hear about the death of two firefighters and the injuries other people suffered and our sympathies go to their families.'

Ringmer resident Andy Cooper heard Sunday's massive explosion.

He said: 'I heard some mighty bangs and then masses of smoke. I thought the local tyre factory had gone up.

'Fireworks were shooting everywhere. I feel sad for the family of those who died.

''Martin Winter had a very good business there and it was a very clever and efficient operation with all the latest technology on firework displays.

'They had built it up from as very small operation. I feel very sad for them.'