Police watchdogs have launched an inquiry after shots were fired at a suspected gunman as he fled along a railway line.

Officers were called to Ore railway station, near Hastings, at 12.30am yesterday following reports of a man thought to be carrying a firearm.

As officers pursued him along the track, shots were fired. Neither the officers nor the suspect were injured.

Sussex Police has notified the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), the independent body overseeing complaints against serving police officers.

The force has faced massively damaging high-profile inquiries into its officers' use of firearms in Hastings.

James Ashley, 39, was unarmed and naked when he was shot dead by a police marksman during a raid on his St Leonards flat in January 1998.

The fallout led to chief constable Paul Whitehouse quitting amid criticisms from Home Secretary David Blunkett over his handling of the case.

Superintendent Gerry Price, of Kent Police, has been brought in to investigate whether officers acted properly in yesterday's incident.

PCA member David Petch, who will supervise the inquiry, said: "Sussex has referred the circumstances of the discharge of firearms so that an impartial inquiry can be carried out to check procedures were followed."

A man aged 25 was today due before Hastings magistrates charged with possession of a firearm and attempting to resist arrest.

Inspector Andy Kille said: "During the course of the incident shots were fired. No one was injured.

"Sussex Police has notified the PCA and requested another force review the operation, a course of action agreed by the PCA."