A FIRE ripped through the roof of a countryside house sparking an enormous emergency services response.

Fire crews were called to Lewes Road in Chelwood Gate yesterday evening to deal with the incident.

Eight engines were sent to the scene shortly before 7.30pm and arrived to find a “significant fire” in the roof of the property, which was surrounded by scaffolding due to ongoing renovation work.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman praised crews who “worked hard in arduous conditions to both tackle the fire and to salvage the property and the owners’ possessions”>

She said: “Crews remained at the scene through the night to carry out dampening down of the property and to monitor for any potential flare-ups or hot spots.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out today.”