A bomb exploded in a Sussex waste recycling plant, sending shock waves for miles around.

Two workers at the Pebsham plant, near Bexhill, suffered ear problems and were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The bomb, thought to have been a discarded military shell, was in the plant's crusher when it blew up yesterday.

The entire building shook and panels were blown off the walls. Small fires from debris were also scattered around the crusher.

Bomb disposal experts from Folkestone were last night at the scene to check for any more shells.Fire crews from Hastings and Bexhill were called to the plant at 1pm.

Firefighters successfully doused the small fires near the crusher. They waited with the bomb disposal experts last night as a precautionary measure in case they needed assistance.

Acting Sgt Neil Redman said the entire building was evacuated. He said: "There was a sizeable explosion which damaged walls.

"No people work near the crusher, just in case something like this happens. "But two workers complained of ringing in the ears afterwards and they went to hospital as a precaution."

The plant caused controversy when it was built as nearby residents wanted the land, a gap between Bexhill and St Leonards, to remain as countryside.

There will be more development at Pebsham when Southern Water starts work next week on a multi-million pound waste water treatment plant.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.