Royal Mail depot evacuated after fire

A Royal Mail depot in Brighton had to be evacuated as firefighters tackled a large blaze.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) urged the public to avoid the area near to the Royal Mail Office in North Road.

Three crews attended at 10:17 BST on Friday following reports of a van alight and extinguished the fire.

Some firefighters remain at the scene, an ESFRS spokesman said.

Royal Mail said all staff were safe and no mail had been damaged.

“There may be some disruption to deliveries and collections today and tomorrow due to some vehicles being damaged,” a spokesperson added.

On Thursday, an application to build a new postal distribution centre in Patcham was approved by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The site will replace the current offices in North Road and Denmark Villas, Hove.