Firefighters battled for three hours to control a fierce blaze which ripped through a Mid Sussex bungalow.

Teams from Haywards Heath were called to Rout Farm in Colwood Lane, Warninglid, near Haywards Heath, at 2.40pm yesterday.

The inferno wrecked the 15-metre-long building but firefighters stopped it spreading to outbuildings.

Because there was no mains water supply at the farm they relied on two carriers each containing about four tonnes of water.

Firefighters from Horsham took over at 6pm and made sure the fire was fully extinguished.

This morning, crews from Haywards Heath returned to the scene to check the debris and dampen the piles of ash.

A spokesman said: "When we got there it was just a massive ball of flames and the heat was incredible.

"But we battled hard with the resources we had and managed to get the thing under control in about 90 minutes.

"We do not yet know how the fire started but all the fire crews deserve a pat on the back for their efforts."

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire Brigade said people were initially reported missing in the fire but everyone had been accounted for.