A FIRE ripped its way through a bungalow and left the property utterly destroyed.

Firefighters were called to the scene in a village on Shoreham Road, near Henfield, were a fire had taken hold in the property.

Around 15 firefighters from three crews including three fire engines and a water tanker arrived on the scene within minutes to battle the blaze but could not stop the roof from collapsing.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) were called after witnesses reported flames coming from the roof of the bungalow at around 9pm on Saturday night.

On twitter WSFRS said “swift and skilled work” from their crews had managed to get the fire “under control”.

The road through the village of Small Dole was left blocked by emergency vehicles as they tackled the inferno.

Fire crews were there until the early hours as they managed to aftermath of the blaze.

No one was injured in the fire and no one was rescued from the property.

A spokesman for WSFRS said it was believed the property was unoccupied and under renovation at the time of the fire.

An investigation has been launched by the fire service and police to try and establish the cause of the blaze.