A car dealer has lost his livelihood in a fire which destroyed 11 of his motors and razed his business.

Parkside Garage, on the Rosier industrial estate, was gutted by the blaze, which took hold late on Sunday night, ravaging the building and destroying its contents.

Neighours reporting hearing explosions at 2am and seeing flames leaping into the air as car after car was destroyed in the inferno which engulfed the forecourt, office and workshop.

Peter Stubbs, who runs Stubbs Vehicle services, just yards from Parkside, said: "It was like a canon going off. There was a loud explosion, followed by a series of popping noises.

"The guard dog was going crazy so I ran outside. It looked as if the whole sky was on fire."

Firefighters arrived at 2.45am to find the the blaze had already taken hold of the building and was rapidly spreading to nearby vans. They battled for two hours to bring the fire under control.

Sussex Police have so far been unable to establish a cause.

Det Con Roy Perryman, who is heading the inquiry, said: "Because of the level of destruction it is difficult to tell what might have happened.

"The workshop and office were razed to the ground. There's really nothing left. We are yet to determine whether it was a result of arson, an accident or an electrical fire."

But neighbours fear that a break-in on the site may lie behind the explosion.

Mr Stubbs, who often sleeps in his workshop to guard against trespassers, told the Argus: "I like to keep watch in the holidays because children can often get up to mischief in the school holidays.

"Year after year we have to chase kids off the site. We have a problem with access, as there's just a footpath leading up to us. If the kids want to go off exploring at all hours of the night and causing trouble they will.

"It's a very strange thing to happen. I didn't hear anything until the explosion, the shop was completely deserted. My own workshop is about three quarters wood, and I'm always welding and shedding sparks in there, but I've never managed to set myself alight. It's very strange."

Neighbouring businesses were left untouched by the blaze but had their electricity cut off for the rest of the Bank Holiday as emergency services feared a second explosion.

Mr Stubbs said: "It hasn't been a great Bank Holiday but I'm just glad that it wasn't me. I really feel for the man, it's going to be quite a blow for him."