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Major fire at fireworks factory Major fire at fireworks factory
(30 minutes later)
A major fire has broken out at a fireworks factory in East Sussex. A fire has broken out at a fireworks factory near Ringmer in East Sussex.
Sussex Police said firefighters from the county were called to The Broyle near Ringmer, between Lewes and Hailsham, at 1350 GMT. The ambulance service said a number of people have been hurt, some seriously, and police have evacuated the area.
Witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks going off. Firefighters were called to the factory at The Broyle at 1350 GMT. Six ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance are at the scene.
Police have declared the fire a major incident and are evacuating the area. According to reports, some people have been injured. Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding.
Six ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance are at the scene. BBC reporter Rob Smith said fireworks were still going off over three hours after the blaze started.
A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "There has been an explosion and there are people injured."
John Winter, whose brother owns the factory, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook".John Winter, whose brother owns the factory, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook".
He said his brother and sons had managed to get out of the factory safely. He said his brother and family had managed to get out of the factory safely, but their house had burnt down.
"The place is still burning, but no-one is doing anything," he said."The place is still burning, but no-one is doing anything," he said.
Tiles and windows had been blown into neighbouring houses, Mr Winter added.Tiles and windows had been blown into neighbouring houses, Mr Winter added.
It is understood the fireworks factory is a concrete complex with steel doors.It is understood the fireworks factory is a concrete complex with steel doors.
Jo Hyne, who lives about 500m from the factory, said she heard a loud bang which she had thought at first was thunder.Jo Hyne, who lives about 500m from the factory, said she heard a loud bang which she had thought at first was thunder.
She said there was "a colossal amount of smoke, and rockets going off", before a much larger explosion that shook her house.She said there was "a colossal amount of smoke, and rockets going off", before a much larger explosion that shook her house.
She added that a friend who lived five miles away had had two doors in her house blown off.She added that a friend who lived five miles away had had two doors in her house blown off.
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