AN investigation has been launched after a huge fire destroyed 19 coaches and left residents fearing for their lives.

The fire started across the road from the Upper Beeding Cement Works, in Steyning Road, at a bus depot.

A series of loud bangs, thought to be the coach fuel tanks exploding, woke neighbours who called the fire brigade shortly after 2am.

Will Rowsell lives nearby with his wife and their two young children, said the explosions kept him up all night.

He said: “There were huge explosions going off.

“I was half asleep and they were going off every five or ten minutes.

“I would fall asleep and then another bang would wake me up.

“I thought they were bombs. Each bang must have been the fuel tanks of each coach blowing up. It was mad.”

Mr Rowsell’s wife watched the dramatic scene unfold after dialling 999.

He added: “There were huge plumes of smoke going over the river, luckily for us towards Storrington.”

In total, 23 coaches were damaged by the fire.

A spokesman for WSFRS said 19 of them were “100 per cent destroyed” while the other four were affected by heat.

Two so-called historically important Southdown buses were saved from the fire.

Two portacabins were also destroyed in the blaze along with a large workshop building.

Anna Moody, who also lives in Steyning Road, was also woken by the explosions.

She said: “I heard a loud bang which woke me and my baby up.

“We thought it was fireworks being set off and someone was having a party.”

Six fire engines were called to tackle the blaze and firefighters worked through the night to put the flames out.

Crews were still working at the scene at 9am yesterday as investigators moved in to determine the cause of the fire.

A fire spokesman said there were no injuries.

Audrey Smith was dropping her daughter to her house in Steyning Road at about 2am when the blaze began.

She said: “I saw fire engines when I dropped my daughter home but didn’t hear anything.

“When I was driving home, my car windscreen started getting really dirty.

“It was covered in this sooty stuff, which must have been from all the smoke from the fire.

“It was hard to see around the area while I was driving as well.”

The Argus understands Ace Travel Sussex lost 19 buses in the blaze.

It is understood there are four bus companies and six other firms on the site.

Matt Musgrove, who also lived in Steyning Road, was woken by the explosions.

He said: “I heard lots of bangs at about 4am and then watched from my bedroom window.

“When I heard the bang I knew exactly what is was.”

The fire comes just weeks after houses were bulldozed at the cement works site by the land’s new owners, Dudman.

Southern Transit Bus Company, which loans buses and coaches for events, is on the site but have told The Argus their buses were unaffected as their vehicles were moved in time.