Picnickers and strollers had to be moved away from a large blaze which broke out in the middle of a popular Mid Sussex park.

More than 50 firefighters battled for five hours to bring the forest fire in Tilgate Park, Crawley, under control yesterday afternoon.

The blaze, which affected 15 acres of the park, started at about 1.20pm when the park was busy.

Firefighters from Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Turners Hill, Horsham and Haywards Heath were called to the scene as flames destroyed trees and undergrowth.

Leading Firefighter Tony Rose, from Crawley fire station, said: "About 15 acres of undergrowth and trees were alight when we arrived. It was awkward access so it took a long time to get the equipment in.

"We had a crew with beaters trying to control some of the flames, and pumps and hose reels bringing in water from the fishing lake.

"We damped down the flames and the whole process took about five hours."

Investigations are under way into the cause of the fire.