A fierce fire tore through the roofs of a row of terraced houses last night.

Flames spread across three homes in Crossbush Lane, Crossbush, near Arundel, shortly before 7pm.

The fire service was called and teams rushed to the scene, arriving to find a huge cloud of thick, grey smoke billowing from the buildings.

Fire tears through roofs of terraced houses in Crossbush, near Arundel Credit: Eddie Mitchell

Crews worked quickly to bring the fire under control, remaining on the scene late into the night to make sure the blaze did not reignite.

"All persons were accounted for at the scene," a West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed.

He said: "We were alerted to reports of a fire involving five terraced houses in Crossbush Lane, at Crossbush, near Arundel, at approximately 7pm on Tuesday, March 9.

"Two fire engines from Littlehampton, two from Worthing, one from Arundel, one from East Preston and one from Chichester were mobilised to the scene along with the Aerial Ladder Platform from Worthing, the Water Carrier from Petworth and Incident Command Unit from Bognor Regis.

Fire tears through roofs of terraced houses in Crossbush, near Arundel Credit: Eddie Mitchell

Fire tears through roofs of terraced houses in Crossbush, near Arundel Credit: Eddie Mitchell

"Crews quickly got to work to bring the fire under control, after it had spread through the roofs of three properties.

"Residents living nearby were advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke in the area.

"A relief crew was scheduled to attend from 1am to ensure there are no further hotspots."