A man was led to safety by firefighters after his house filled with smoke as he slept.

Fire crews from Eastbourne station came to the rescue of a “middle-aged” man who fell asleep while his dinner was cooking on the hob in his home in Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, at about 6pm last night.

Firefighters said they found the man asleep on his bed but managed to wake him and lead him out the house and avoid any serious injuries as his flat became smoke-logged.