Firefighters broke their strike to attend a serious road accident after reports there were up to five people trapped in the wreckage.

It was the first time Worthing firefighters had left the picket line since the start of the eight-day stoppage on Friday.

Nine firefighters went to the busy A27 at Poling, near Arundel, at 6.30pm.

When the crews from Green Watch arrived at the scene they found a Ford Transit van on its side and the ambulance service in control. No one was trapped.

Assistant Divisional Officer Mark Osborne said: "West Sussex mobilising centre give us the opportunity to respond to all calls where people are trapped.

"We had no hesitation in going out as there. We will always respond to reports of people being trapped. It is important the public realise this."

Two Green Goddesses were last night called to a kitchen fire in Langdale Avenue, Chichester.

Also last night, a Green Goddesses staffed by the Royal Navy dealt with a car fire in Hurstpierpoint and a suspected fire in Nelson Road, Hastings, only for the crew to discover the burning smell was caused by clothes drying on radiators which were too hot.