RESIDENTS watched from their windows as smoke from a large fire on Devil’s Dyke billowed into the sky.

The blaze erupted near the Dyke Golf Club, off Devil’s Dyke Road, Poynings, at about 5.20pm.

Firefighters from across the county rushed to the scene to keep the flames under control. 

About an hour later, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service announced about 200 square metres of grass was alight.

The Argus:

“My family and I were having a picnic across the other side of the road from the field,” said a woman on Devil’s Dyke

“Then all these fire trucks turned up and we saw flames and smoke right behind us,” she added.

Residents from Hangleton to Lancing reported they could see the smoke billowing into the sky from the blaze.

“We would urge people to continue to keep their doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke in the area,” a spokesman for the fire service said.

Crews from Horsham, Burgess Hill, Henfield, Hove and Brighton battled to control the flames.

A water carrier from Burgess Hill and an incident command unit from Haywards Heath were also called.

The Argus:

They were joined by off-road vehicles from Crawley and Horsham, as well as the service’s technical rescue unit, which used a drone.

Sussex Police turned away vehicles in Devil’s Dyke Road as they approached the scene.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We are dealing with a fire in the open off Devil’s Dyke Rd near Poynings.

“There is around 200 square metres of grass alight. We have brought in a second water carrier from Petworth and an off-road vehicle from Midhurst.

“Please avoid the area to allow crews to work safely.”

At 8.30pm, the spokesman added: "Our crews are making steady progress and continuing to dampen down hotspots.

"Relief crews are being brought in.”