More than 50 firefighters battled through the night to avert disaster when arsonists set fire to a lorry full of explosive gas cylinders.

The blaze forced the closure of the A27 in both directions amid fears that the cylinders would explode.

No one was injured but rush-hour drivers faced long tailbacks this morning.

Fire crews from Worthing began to tackle the fire after the alarm was raised at the Burgess Plant Yard, Castle Goring, at 2am, but realised they were dealing with a potentially deadly threat when cylinders containing acetylene were found on the vehicle.

Emergency services set up a 200-metre exclusion zone.

There are no houses near the yard but the A27 was closed as the fire was brought under control by around 5am.

Station Officer Colin Bird, of Worthing fire station, said: "It was deliberate as far as we were concerned. An old caravan and tyres and other stuff dotted around the yard caught fire as well."

The westbound carriageway is not expected to reopen until the early hours of tomorrow.

Fire brigade Assistant Divisional Officer Peter Martin confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious because it appeared to have started in three or four places.