EMERGENCY services were called to a busy city centre car park yesterday after a vehicle caught fire.

Six fire engines and three police cars were at the scene in The Lanes car park in Black Lion Street, Brighton.

Officers cordoned off Black Lion Street and urged peeople to avoid the area.

It is not thought anyone was hurt in the blaze, which happened shortly before 2.30pm on Sunday (July 22) as the area was packed with shoppers and tourists.

Crowds gathered to watch as fire crews from Brighton and Hove, Lewes, Roedean, Seaford and Uckfield arrived at the scene.

It is not yet known how the car caught fire.

A worker at a nearby shop, who asked not to be named, said: “I heard it was a car on fire in the basement of the car park.

“Looking at the number of fire engines and police cars, it seemed like something really serious.

“We couldn’t see much as police had blocked off the street.”

A resident, who also declined to be named, said: “We were told it was  car on fire though we couldn’t see any smoke. I don’t know if any other vehicles were damaged. I just hope  no one was hurt.”

East Sussex and Fire Rescue Service was contacted for a comment but had not responded as we went to print last night.