Ashdown Forest - the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood - went up in flames overnight as a fire swept across six acres of land.

Firefighters were called to the forest near Kingstanding, 19 miles north-east of Brighton in East Sussex, at about 9.30pm.

Crews are still battling the blaze, which has now spread across six hectares, an area roughly equivalent to six full-size football pitches.

The forest gave birth to AA Milne's famous creation. The Hundred Acre Wood, from the author's children's books, is actually named after the Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Six fire engines, four Land Rovers, a water carrier and the control unit are in attendance and our teams are tackling the fire using beaters."