Regulars at a village pub were evacuated when a chimney caught fire.

About 15 customers were drinking at the Lambs Inn, Rusper, when staff realised there was a blaze at 6pm yesterday.

They were shepherded out to safety while staff called the fire brigade.

Two crews from Crawley took two hours to bring the fire under control and an aerial ladder platform from Horsham was also used.

The building was smoke- logged but there were no injuries reported.

Firefighter John Eldridge from Crawley fire station said: "There are a lot of chimney fires at this time of year because people have only just started using fires again after the summer. They often don't realise they are blocked."

One of the pub's landlords, who did not want to be named, said: "Chimney fires can be dangerous but thankfully the fire brigade were brilliant.

"We're open for business as usual."