The blaze broke out at the back of Boots at around 11pm, staff and shoppers had to be evacuated but there were no reported injuries.
More than 80 fire fighters were called to tackle the fire, which had then spread to the front of Boots.
Fire crews were able to stop the blaze spreading to the neighbouring shops, but Next and Sports Direct were damaged by smoke.
A Cineworld employee who witnessed the blaze said: “The air was thick with the smell of smoke and burning. There was a torrent of police and fire staff, they had a raised platform spraying water on it.
More than 80 fire fighters were called to tackle the fire, which had then spread to the front of Boots.
Fire crews were able to stop the blaze spreading to the neighbouring shops, but Next and Sports Direct were damaged by smoke.
A Cineworld employee who witnessed the blaze said: “The air was thick with the smell of smoke and burning. There was a torrent of police and fire staff, they had a raised platform spraying water on it.
An hour and a half later the smoke was even thicker and a crowd had gathered outside, customers were leaving their films to watch the place burn. By the time my shift ended at 11 you could actually see the flames reaching up from the top of the Boots building. At that point the police were planing on closing the car park at the roundabout.
As people were coming back from the harbour to reclaim their cars the police were telling them to get straight into their cars and go, the onlooking crowd had been pushed right to the back of the car park and the police were attempting to disperse them.”
A Police Source said: “East and West Sussex Fire Brigades were called. The fire started in Boots, the cause is unknown at this stage but it started after closing time so it could be electrical.”
The fire was under control by 1:32am and the retail park will be open on Sunday but with restricted parking while the clean up continues.
A Boots spokesperson said that they will be working closely with Police and Fire services. The store will be closed until further notice.
As people were coming back from the harbour to reclaim their cars the police were telling them to get straight into their cars and go, the onlooking crowd had been pushed right to the back of the car park and the police were attempting to disperse them.”
A Police Source said: “East and West Sussex Fire Brigades were called. The fire started in Boots, the cause is unknown at this stage but it started after closing time so it could be electrical.”
The fire was under control by 1:32am and the retail park will be open on Sunday but with restricted parking while the clean up continues.
A Boots spokesperson said that they will be working closely with Police and Fire services. The store will be closed until further notice.
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