Firefighters remain at waste services site blaze

Firefighters remained at the scene overnight

Fire crews remain at the scene of a major blaze which broke out at a waste services site in West Sussex.

The fire started at about 10:20 BST on Friday and involved a large building containing recycling and plant machinery in Climping, near Littlehampton.

The A259 at Grevatts Lane was closed but has since reopened.

Dave Bray, area manager for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS), said the operation had been scaled back but warned people to stay inside if they smelt smoke or saw any falling debris.

Eight fire engines, two water carriers and two aerial ladders were at the scene at the peak of the blaze on Friday but this was scaled down to two fire engines by 18:00, Mr Bray said.

"Throughout the night, we’ve had two crews there on a rotation, just to make sure that nothing untoward happens on the site," he added.

His advice to people in the area was “if you can smell smoke, or any debris starts to fall in your locality, just stay inside, doors and windows shut, whilst the waste unfortunately continues to burn”.

The fire service said it received "multiple" 999 calls reporting the fire on Friday and clouds of black smoke could be seen billowing from the site.

WFRS said the cause of the fire would be investigated when it was safe to do so.