FIRE crews have halted their search for casualties after hundreds of tonnes of stone fell from a castle wall onto a building below.

They were called at 12.20pm after a wall at Lewes Castle collapsed.

Search dogs and a drone were called in to help locate possible casualties.

The Argus:

Police, ambulance and dedicated search and rescue teams were called in and remained in the area for more than seven hours.

But East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has now said it is stopping the search with no casualties having been found.

A spokesman said: "We were mobilised at 12.22pm today following reports part of Lewes Castle had fallen onto a commercial building called the Old Coach House.

The Argus:

"Assistance was requested from Sussex Police, SECamb, HART, Building Control, the Red Cross and specialist teams, including both Kent and West Sussex Urban Search & Rescue.

"Three search dogs which were deployed at the scene have checked the area.

"Cameras are also being used to look through windows, up stairwells and into voids.

"No casualties have been found.

The Argus:

"The Service is now helping provide information to structural engineers so that the building can be shored up.

"The gas supply has been isolated and the building is also being monitored using building stability monitors and specialist equipment.

"This will help protect crews and colleagues from other organisations who are working at the site.

"Kent’s Urban Search and Rescue team remain at the scene."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service incident commander Matt Lloyd said:
“This has been a very complex and unusual situation which has required co-operation and assistance from a significant number of our partners.

"We would like to thank all those involved in this incident, and the public for their patience.

The service said that "no further updates are expected this evening".