Inquests open on firework victims

Cameraman Brian Wembridge and sub-officer Geoff Wicker were killed

Inquests have opened into the deaths of two fire service staff killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory.

Geoff Wicker, 49, and support officer Brian Wembridge, 63, died in the blast at Festival fireworks UK Ltd, near Lewes, East Sussex, on 3 December.

Police told East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze that they expected a lengthy investigation, and he adjourned the inquests to an unspecified future date.

The men's bodies were released to their families for funeral arrangements.

Det Ch Insp Stephen Johns told the hearing at Eastbourne Magistrates Court that the first explosion occurred at 1443 GMT on 3 December.

Firefighters recovered Mr Wembridge's body the same day, but it was too dangerous to remove Mr Wicker's body from the site until three days later.

Unexploded fireworks

Twelve other people were injured, including nine members of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, a police sergeant and two members of the public.

Mr Wicker, a married father-of-two, joined the service more than 30 years ago as a retained firefighter.

Mr Wembridge retired in 1994 after joining in 1961, but had worked on support services taking photographs at major incidents.

Police said on Monday there were still several thousand kilos of unexploded fireworks on the site, which were presenting a hazard to investigations.

The cause of the fire and explosion at the depot, on Marley Farm, Shortgate, is still unknown.