An investigation has been launched into whether the amount of rubbish stored at the scene of a six-day blaze was “appropriate.”

The Environment Agency is looking into the case of Skip-It in Newhaven which went up in flames last week.

Firefighters were on the scene around the clock for just under a week.

Thousands of litres of water was used to extinguish 200 tonnes of industrial waste which sent smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air, at the containers in North Quay Road from Friday, December 5.

Public Health England issued a warning to residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed during the fire.

The site is permitted to manage household, commercial waste including plastics, cardboard, wood, metal, glass, inert waste such as soils, bricks, concrete as well as black bag waste to produce fuel.

A permit allows 150,000 tonnes of waste to be handled a year.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “There are no storage time limits in the permit but the time limits are managed through the company’s own environmental management system and the Environment Agency’s technical guidance.

“The operator must ensure the site does not accept more waste than it can handle without breaching conditions in the environmental permit for the site.

“Permit conditions are designed to prevent harm to the environment or human health, for example by controlling odour and dust.

“As part of our investigation into the incident we will consider whether the quantity of waste at the site was appropriate.” On Thursday East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service re-inspected the site for signs of smouldering waste.

A spokesman said: “The fire is now out however re-inspections will continue to be made until the Service is satisfied that there is no chance of re-ignition.”