A major fire which took 40 firefighters to extinguish has resulted in a woman being taken to hospital.

Crews were called to a serious fire in Marina Parade in Hastings at 12.34am this morning.

The woman, understood to be in her 60s, is believed to have jumped from the burning building and sustained serious injuries.

There was a mass evacuation of the areas surrounding the building and Hastings RNLI provided shelter and refreshments for residents who had to leave their homes.

The Command Unit and officers also attended, and aerial ladder platforms were used.

The fire badly damaged the first and second floor as well as the the roof space.

The building - which is in a row of seven terraced properties including homes and shops - is unsafe and a structural survey is being arranged.

Travel disruption is expected in the area as investigation work is carried out and the A259 Marine Parade has already been closed eastbound.

Crews from Bohemia Road and The Ridge fire stations in Hastings remain at the scene.

A row of terraced homes and shops were affected, with some walls and room space collapsing.

Hastings Borough Commander Nigel Cusack said: "It is obviously a distressing time for those whose homes and properties have been affected by this fire.

"Firefighters worked incredibly hard to limit the damage it caused and stop it spreading even further through neighbouring buildings.

"The fast response and operational tactics used prevented this becoming a larger scale incident.

"Building experts are now making the area safe so that a fire investigation can begin."