Visitors were evacuated from Drusillas Zoo Park at Alfriston yesterday afternoon because of a grass fire on nearby farmland.  

The popular Sussex attraction said evacuation procedures were put in place and animals were shut away as the fire approached. All visitors were safely evacuated and no damage occurred to the park.  All animals are safe and well and the park will be open as usual today.

Six fire engines were sent to the scene at Berwick Court Farm where about 20 acres of crops were lost as well as a £60,000 tractor.  

A driver failed to stop at the scene of a serious collision on Felcourt Road in Lingfield on Friday night.  

The collision happened about half a mile south from the junction with East Grinstead Road between 11.00 pm and 11.30 pm.  The incident is believed to have involved a dark coloured vehicle, potentially overtaking a Vauxhall Astra. This resulted in the Astra leaving the road and hitting a tree.  The driver of the Astra and a passenger were taken to hospital.

Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the dark-coloured vehicle involved in the collision. They would also like to hear from the driver of a third unknown car which they believe was travelling in the opposite direction on the other carriageway at the time.

Fire crews from Surrey and Sussex attended a large fire in Smallfield on Saturday night.  

Four hundred tonnes of building waste and wood were alight on Chapel Road. Fire crews from Salfords, Reigate, Godstone and Lingfield attended the scene.  Additional fire vehicles were brought in to help bring the fire under control including the aerial ladder platform from Leatherhead and the high volume pump from Chertsey.  

Although airport operations were unaffected, Gatwick Airport Air traffic control was kept up to date about the incident due to the smoke plume seen in the area.

The fire service remained on the scene until Sunday morning.

Visitors to East Surrey Hospital have been asked to help stop the spread of infection on the wards.  

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the Hospital, has restricted visitors to some wards due to several patients experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.  

To stop the spread of infection, the Trust has advised people not to visit patients at the hospital if they have suffered from these symptoms in the last 48 hours. Visitors can also help by washing their hands with soap and water on entering and leaving the wards, avoid bringing gifts of food or flowers, and to sit on a chair rather than on the beds when visiting a patient on the wards.