Police cordoned off part of Harley Shute Road, St Leonards, just before 6pm and traffic was diverted along nearby roads while firefighters tackled the blaze in a back garden.

Nobody was hurt in the fire which wrecked a static caravan in a garden adjoining Combe Haven Caravan Park.

Ten firefighters in two fire engines were called to the fire, and used water from a hydrant on the opposite side of the road to douse the flames.

Hoses stretching across Harley Shute Road were the main reason for the lengthy road closure, said firefighter Graham Geer, of Bohemia Road Fire Station, at the scene.

"Cars wouldn't get past because of the hoses and our equipment," he added. "The fire was contained to the caravan which was completely destroyed.

"No-one was injured. We used four breathing apparatus, two hose reels and a jet to extinguish the fire."

A neighbour said: "I saw a lot of black smoke coming from the back garden, then the fire engines came along. There is nothing left of the caravan."

Part of Harley Shute Road was still closed at 8pm.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.