A workshop fire caused a series of explosions, forcing firefighters to close streets to keep the public safe.

About six minor explosions could be heard as the blaze ripped through the furniture workshop in Arthur Road, Hove, close to Aldrington railway station.

The fire, which began just before 8am yesterday, destroyed most of the building where furniture is paint sprayed.

More than 40 firefighters tackled the fire at its height.

At one point it was thought trains might have to be stopped while the blaze was brought under control but such action was not necessary.

Foam rather than water was used as there were chemicals stored on the premises.

It was brought under control after two and a half hours.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

Police closed off several of the narrow roads in the Poet's Corner area of Hove as fire appliances, including a turntable ladder, dealt with the fire.

Some appliances had difficulty negotiating the narrow streets with cars parked on either side of the road. Four breathing apparatus were used.

The turntable ladder from Preston Circus station Brighton had to reverse up one of the narrow streets so that firefighters could manoeuvre the aerial platform into a position to spray the flames.

Scores of schoolchildren on their way to school and people on their way to work stopped to watch the fire.

Paul Gardiner, 62, of Montgomery Street, Hove, said: "I was on my way to catch a bus when I saw huge clouds of billowing black smoke at the end of my street. The was a pall of smoke billowing half a mile into the sky. The end of the street was obscured by smoke.

"It was a major incident involving fire, police and ambulance.

"There is a lot of double parking here at times and although most of the emergency vehicles seem to have got through people are really concerned about the double parking issue.

"I would not like my house to be involved in an incident which required emergency vehicles being sent to my home because they could be delayed by the double parking problems."

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said the blaze was not suspicious.

He said: "We are treating the fire as accidental and believe it was an electrical or mechanical fault.

"It is difficult to establish exactly where it started because there has been a lot of damage."