NEARLY 40 firefighters fought to save two homes which caught fire.

Eight fire engines were called at round 2pm yesterday to Prince Edward’s Road, Lewes, after the owners discovered the fire in the roof.

Thirty eight firefighters tackled the blaze which had spread from one house through the roof to the adjoining house.

Fire engines from Newhaven, Uckfield, Brighton, Hove, Roedean, Barcombe and Forest Row responded, including a specialist aerial ladder platform.

Police were also called to man the cordon and the road was closed in both directions.

By mid afternoon when The Argus arrived at the scene, the roofs of both properties were badly damage with smoke still billowing out.

Firefighters had to remove tiles to put out the fire in the roof space while neighbours stood in the street in shock.

Neighbour Martin Jangaard, 56, said: “My wife came outside because she thought it was very misty.

“When we came out both roofs were smoking and it took hold very quickly.

“At one point there was an awful lot of smoke.

“Then the fire engines were here and more arrived.

“They came from all over.”

Another neighbour, Belinda Crawford, told The Argus: “It was about 2.30pm that I saw it.

“It was in both homes so there were flames coming from the home on the right side to the house on the left. But the heaviest amount of smoke came from the property on the left.

“It presumably started on the right and spread to left.

“It was scary seeing it because I know the people who live there. Thank goodness everyone was out by the time the fire took hold.

“The firefighters were very fast and all of the neighbours have been offering them a bed for the night.”

It was reported that the fire was due to an electrical fault but officers are still investigating.

The couple in the adjoining house, which the fire spread to, are said to have young children.

They were in the property at the time but managed to get out unharmed.

The father of two, who did want to give his name, said he was devastated at what had been lost in the fire.

Matt Elder, East Sussex Fire and Rescue group manager, said: “There was extensive damage to both roof spaces. The fire started in one house and spread to the other side.

“It was a very difficult fire for us to deal with as it was in a confined space and difficult for firefighters to get in there.

“It was well established by the time we arrived so we had been fighting it from the outside using the aerial platform to remove the tiles so we could get access to the fire.”