A road has been re-opened after fire crews responded to a blaze which ravaged a thatched cottage.

The fire at the cottage saw six pumps in attendance as aerial platforms and jets were used to tackle the flames.

After the blaze in Pond Lane in Durrington was scaled down, crews from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service left the scene early this morning before returning for re-inspection.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 4.01pm yesterday we were called to a fire in a thatch cottage in Pond Lane, Durrington.

“Crews attended from Worthing, Littlehampton, East Preston, Shoreham, supported by East Sussex crews from Brighton. Firefighters used arial ladder platforms and jets to tackle the fire.

“Pond Lane and surrounding roads were closed off to traffic.

“Firefighters remained in attendance overnight before the incident was scaled back and our last crew left the scene at 5.30am this morning.

Pond Lane was reopened for traffic and we returned to the property at 7.30am this morning for reinspection.”

Drone images from the scene showed smoke and flames billowing from the windows and roof of the cottage.

The fire service earlier confirmed that there were no injuries at the scene of the fire.