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Major fire at fireworks factory Major fire at fireworks factory
(40 minutes later)
A number of people have been hurt, some seriously, in a fire at a fireworks factory near Ringmer in East Sussex.A number of people have been hurt, some seriously, in a fire at a fireworks factory near Ringmer in East Sussex.
Police evacuated the area after firefighters were called to the factory at The Broyle at 1350 GMT. Police evacuated the area after fire crews were called to the site at The Broyle industrial estate at 1350 GMT.
Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding.Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding.
BBC reporter Rob Smith said fireworks were still going off over three hours after the blaze started. BBC reporter Rob Smith said fireworks were still going off more than three hours after the blaze started.
Six ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance are at the scene. Twelve ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance were sent to the scene.
John Winter, whose brother owns the factory, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook". Janine Bell, of South East Coast Ambulance Service, said she was not able to confirm the number of casualties.
But she said the situation "worsened" during the afternoon.
Casualties have been taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, and Eastbourne District General.
John Winter, whose brother owns the factory at Marley Farm, in Shortgate, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook".
He said his brother and family had managed to get out of the factory safely, but their house had burnt down.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.
It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it Richard Mitchell, eyewitness
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.
Another eyewitness, Richard Mitchell, watched the drama unfold from outside a pub in Lewes Road, Ringmer.
"It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it," he said.
Claire Freeman, from Ringmer, had been eating in the Wok Inn next door to the factory, when the fire broke out.
She said diners were evacuated to the car park at the time of the largest explosion.
She told the BBC news website: "Pieces of wood [were] falling, hissing into puddles around us, at which point we left pretty sharpish."
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