Workers were evacuated from an industrial estate following an explosion and a fire.
Fire crews from West and East Sussex and Surrey were called to the Hobbs Industrial Estate, Eastbourne Road, Lingfield, which is on the West Sussex and Surrey border, just before 11.30am today.
Following the explosion smoke could be seen from as far as High Street, East Grinstead.
There are about 50 industrial units on the site and police, firefighters and paramedics are in attendance.
The explosion was heard by people at the nearby London England Temple.
One engineer, who did not wish to be named, said he was working on a roof near the boundary of the temple's 32-acre grounds, when he heard a loud bang.
He said: “There was a massive, massive bang, a large bang, with a little after-bang but that was it.
“Then just a few minutes after, that's when smoke started to appear.
“I'm actually working on a roof on part of our boundary and I could see the smoke starting to billow up.”
He said a lot of smoke could be seen near the industrial estate, and two helicopters also hovered near the scene.
The engineer said he did not know exactly where the explosion had happened and had not heard anything about rumours that some people may be trapped in the fire.
He said: “The amount of ambulances would indicate something quite serious.”
Christine Brooks, 59, a waitress at the Peacock Lodge pub in Newchapel, said she had heard that some people might be trapped.
She said: “There's been a chemical explosion and the workers from Hobbs Industrial Estate have been evacuated to our pub - some 150 workers. There are rumours that four people are missing.”
She also said she had felt a “huge vibration” at 11.30am. She said: “Everything just shook.”
An insurance assessor at the scene, who declined to be named, said he believed there were no fatalities but that some people had received burns.
He said the premises where the fire broke out belong to a firm called eReco EMEA, which deals with IT and electrical recycling.
Some employees gathered at the Peacock Lodge as police maintained a cordon at the entrance of the industrial estate.
One employee, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard a great big explosion and thought, what on earth was that?
“Then I looked out the window and there was all this debris coming down in the sky.
“It turned out to be stuff that looked like cartridges and bits were flying off the roof.
“We were standing around to start with, then we went back into our office, but were later asked to move away.
“There was one person with burns to his hands but I haven't heard of any fatalities.
“There was another person who had a cut to his ear and he was taken off to treatment.”
A joint statement from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Surrey Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service, said: "Crews are currently working to protect the surrounding premises and are using foam and water to bring the fire under control.
"Progress is difficult due to the presence of bulk liquid petroleum gas and liquid petroleum gas cyclinders.
"In total, eight people have been taken to hospital by ambulance. Police, fire and ambulance services are working hard to bring the incident under control in what are difficult circumstances.
"We would like to reassure the public that all agencies are working together to resolve this incident.
"Anyone who is living nearby should close their windows. The police are asking that members of the public stay away from the area for the rest of the day."
Did you see or hear the explosion or do you know anyone who works at the industrial estate?
Call The Argus on 01273 544525 or leave your comments below.
You can also email any pictures to picture.desk@theargus.co.uk or by texting SUPIC to 80360.
