Brighton house fire brings rush-hour chaos to coast road

A house fire on the border of Rottingdean and Saltdean has brought rush-hour chaos to the A259 coast road.

Seven fire engines and an aerial ladder platform have been sent to Cranleigh Avenue with crews from Preston Circus and Roedean in Brighton at the scene.

The A259 Marine Drive has been closed while firefighters tackle the blaze.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that 999 calls started coming in at about 3.30pm to report the empty detached house ablaze on the corner of Cranleigh Avenue.

Police said: “The presence of gas canisters has increased the hazards presented by the fire and led to the road closure.

“It is anticipated that it will remain closed into the early evening.”

No injuries have been reported.

Sussex Police said: “This has led to an increase in traffic on the A27 which has been exacerbated by an earlier incident at Lewes causing a build-up eastbound back to the A23.

“Diversions are in place between the junction of the A259 and Rottingdean High Street and the Saltdean Lido roundabout.

“Police are recommending that if you are able to avoid the area, you should do so and consider a longer diversionary route before meeting the jams.”

The other incident involved an arrest by officers from the Metropolitan Police by the Kingston roundabout on the A27 on the edge of Lewes at about 3.30pm.

Firearms officers from the Trident Gang Crime Command fired Hatton rounds or breaching rounds to burst the tyres of a suspect’s car.

The Met said that a firearm was recovered and a man was arrested. He is believed to have been taken to the Brighton custody centre in Hollingbury.