A woman fled her home with her baby when a fire broke out in their home.

Horrified witnesses described seeing the crying woman running from the building in Ditchling Road, Brighton, shortly after noon yesterday.

Onlookers said she passed the baby to another woman before running back into the home near the junction with Upper Hollingdean Road.

A 46-year-old woman from Brighton, who witnessed the drama, said: “I saw a lot of people rushing out.

“There were about five women and one had a baby in her arms.“Then I saw the smoke coming from the window of the building.

“There were about five women crowding round.

“After that the police and firefighters arrived - they blocked the whole road off.”

Another witness, Sam Evans, 20, of Hove, added: “I was walking from London Road and I saw three fire engines and police officers had coned off the area.”

It is understood the building involved is divided into flats.

The occupants of one of the flats not involved yesterday said they believed the fire had broken out in the kitchen.

She confirmed she had been passed the baby, but said she did not want to comment further.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokeswoman yesterday said: “We were called to reports of smoke coming from a window of a property in Brighton. There were also reports that people were inside.

“Crews attended the address on Ditchling Road.

“Ambulance crews were also called out.

“On arrival firefighters discovered there was a fire in a kitchen on the first floor.

“They used breathing apparatus and a hose reel to tackle the fire.

“A baby was given medical treatment by paramedics and then the baby and a woman were taken to hospital as a precaution.”

A South East Coast Ambulance spokesman said: “I can confirm that we sent ambulance crews in a car and ambulance to the scene.

“The mother and baby were assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for further checks.”