A retired teacher has apologised for a fire in his workshop that caused hundreds of people to be evacuated from their homes.

Residents, many of them elderly, were evacuated from their homes in Willingdon, near Eastbourne, as fears were raised that a cylinder of highly flammable gas would explode.

The fire occupied the emergency services for more than 24 hours, led to more than 50 homes being evacuated and destroyed Mike Gordon's workshop at the back of his house in Oldfield Road.

Mr Gordon said: “I am so mortified that so many people had to move out of their homes for the night.

“The fire probably started with ashes from my wood burning stove which I put in a wheelie bin on Sunday afternoon because I thought they were cool.

“I parked my car by the garage later that night but didn't notice any smoke, flames or anything.

“It was only when I was notified by the school caretaker in the morning that I knew my workshop was on fire."

When fire crews realised there were canisters in the fire they began evacuating residents from nearby homes in case of an explosion.

Police put up a cordon 200 metres around the site of the fire.