Five people were taken to hospital following a severe fire this morning.

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue one woman from the back of the two storey building in Millers Road, Brighton as the blaze took hold.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service 999 control room staff spoke to the woman trapped in her room and gave her advice until crews arrived.

A passing police officer raised the alarm at around 2.50am when he spotted smoke coming out of the end-of-terrace house and helped get the people inside to safety.

Four women and one man, who were sharing the property, were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road with smoke inhalation and burns.

Up to 20 firefighters from Preston Circus, Hove and Roedean were needed to deal with the blaze, which started in a rear first floor bedroom before spreading to the rest of the floor and roof, causing severe damage.

Crews were at the scene until 6.30am and were due to return this morning to check the building.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze but it is believed a lit candle may have been responsible.

Preston Circus watch manager Steve Tomlin said: "The property did not have a smoke detector so these people were incredibly lucky.

"It was extremely fortunate the officer had been passing and was able to alert them quickly.

"The fire spread very quickly and has caused a lot of damage."