EIGHT fire engines went to a blaze at a recycling warehouse last night.

Emergency crews went to the Burgess Hill Recycling Centre in Fairbridge Way at about 8.15pm.

The first two fire crews on scene were confronted with a large single-storey building pouring smoke and quickly called for back-up.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "We received several calls saying there was a fire there and lots of smoke.

"We sent two appliances from Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath and quickly made that up to eight.

"Other crews came from Crawley, Henfield, Brighton and Horsham.

"This was a building measuring 75m by 25m with a fire in the northeast corner containing domestic waste.

"The building was 50 per cent damaged by fire, the remainder damaged by smoke and heat."

Up to 14 crew wearing breathing gear and carrying hoses sifted through burning debris over the next six hours, drawing water from a hydrant but also a water carrier because of the location.

Crews stood down at about 2.45am today. No one was injured and the blaze was recorded as accidental ignition.