Police are hunting an arsonist after a 30-year-old woman had to be rescued from a flat fire in the early hours of this morning (January 3).

Firefighters were called out to the ground floor property in Southwater Close, Brighton, shortly before 1.30am.

The woman, who had locked herself in the bathroom to escape the blaze,  was dragged out the back window by firefighters.

She escaped with just smoke inhalation.

Police and the fire service have this morning launched a joint arson investigation.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.