SIX fire crews battled a warehouse blaze in the early hours of this morning.

The building, in Avis Way, Newhaven, was previously used as a furniture outlet.

Police are now hoping to trace three people seen walking away from the scene.

Fire engines were initially sent to the blaze at about 1.20am.

The fire took hold on the ground floor of a warehouse measuring about 15m by 20m with a mezzanine level.

Incident Commander Matt Elder said: "Crews worked very hard to stop the fire spreading into the main section of the building.

"Gaining access to the fire was difficult and the unit contains a very large number of items which could have caught alight."

Part of the building was made up of asbestos cement sheeting, widely used in construction until the 1990s, when it was discovered to be cancerous.

Crews used several hoses and sets of breathing gear to get close to the inferno.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "There is quite a lot of furniture-making and upholstery stuff in there.

"The fire was contained to about 20 per cent of the building.

One crew remained on scene as of 11am today and is expected to be there for most of the day. Fire engines from Newhaven, Lewes, Seaford, Roedean and Brighton were involved at the height of the blaze. A command support unit from Lewes and an aerial platform from Brighton were also deployed.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police and fire attended a fire at a warehouse unit in Avis Way, Newhaven, in the early hours of Thursday (December 22).

"The fire is under control and an investigation is taking place to establish its cause, which is not known at this time.

"Police would like to speak to anyone with information about the incident and in particular two males and a female who were seen walking away from the area at the time."

Please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 73 of 22/12.