Firefighters were today still carrying out checks at a scrapyard in Newhaven, more than 48 hours after the start of a massive blaze.

The fire at Jordans scrapyard, North Quay, has been the biggest in East Sussex this year.

As it started early on Wednesday, Jackie Balaam, from Seaford, was returning to her car after checking her boat at Meecham Boatyard.

She said: "I heard a cracking sound like a firework going off and I wondered what on earth was happening.

"I went over to have a closer look and saw there was a car upside down and on fire. There was a coach parked nearby and I could see the flames were almost on it and very close to a pile of other cars nearby, "The flames were so fierce that even though it was dark I could see everything around clearly and it was clear the fire was spreading."

The fire brigade has scaled down its operation today but was carrying out a further inspection.