Fears that a metal container packed with fireworks could explode were not taken seriously enough before a blast killed two firemen, a court heard today.

Nathan Winter said he repeatedly warned fire officials as flames crept towards the container after the blaze broke out at the factory and store he ran with his father, Martin, 52.

He described how the fire started as he was handling fireworks and equipment in the factory as he prepared for a display in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Winter, 25, heard a "crack" as igniters flared up at Festival Fireworks UK Ltd on family-owned land at Marlie Farm in Shortgate, near Lewes, on December 3 2006.

After he fled the factory, he recalled seeing a burst of coloured stars flicker as the fire began to develop and he asked his brother Stuart to call the emergency services.

With flames enveloping the factory, Winter said he wanted firefighters to aim their hoses at a nearby storage facility containing mainly cardboard, timber and plastic tubing.

At the start of his defence today, he told Lewes Crown Court he was concerned about the fire spreading to the neighbouring metal container housing the fireworks.

He said: "At some point they sprayed water on the roof of tube store one which didn't do anything because it just ran off. I asked that the hoses focus inside to soak the contents."

Winter said he asked if he could open up the doors of the store to enable their hoses to dampen what was inside but he was rebuffed by a fire officer.

"I was telling him that we needed to stop the fire getting to the container but I felt I was being ignored," he said. "His attitude was that I wasn't in a position to tell him how to do his job."

He could not remember how many fire officers he spoke to but it was at least one, and he told them that the fireworks inside the container were classified as hazard type three.

As Winter continued to press the issue, he was arrested and led off the site by police before being released.

He described telling a police officer that fire officers were "not listening" to him and they needed to pull out.

Winter added: "If tube store one took light the entire contents would become involved and then it would mean that the fire was within 6ft to 8ft of the container.

"With fire being that close to explosives there was a possibility that it would explode."

He remembered being aware of the explosion as he stood behind a police cordon.

The blast killed retained firefighter Geoff Wicker, 49, and support officer Brian Wembridge, 63, both long-serving members of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Prosecutors allege that Martin and Nathan Winter were aware of the hazards posed by housing such fireworks in a metal container, which was not authorised by the company's licence.

It is claimed the Winters were both familiar with the different hazard classifications given to fireworks and their potential for mass explosion in a confined steel container.

It is also alleged that both men were familiar with the licence and its obligations about how and what could be stored and how fireworks should be handled.

The Crown claims that, nevertheless, the container was still "packed" with fireworks, including those which posed a risk of mass explosion.

The Winters, who both live on Marlie Farm, each deny two counts of manslaughter.

Jurors have heard they could not be considered responsible for the two deaths as it was the duty of fire officers at the scene to have been aware of the dangers of a blaze involving fireworks and to have taken the necessary precautions.

Not guilty pleas have also been entered on behalf of the company, now called Alpha Fireworks Ltd, which faces two counts of breaching health and safety legislation.

Winter insisted he did not put any hazard type one fireworks in the container, which are regarded as the most dangerous fireworks capable of causing mass explosion.

He also denied acting negligently.

The court heard the container had been at the factory site for about three years and up until November 2006 had been used to store chicken feed.

Jurors were told that at the time of the blast, the container was being used to house fireworks before being shipped off to the Middle East for several displays being put on there.

On the morning of the tragedy, Winter said he helped his father load the container with fireworks, but said there was "nothing unusual" in their content.