A WOMAN has been arrested over child neglect after a five-year-old girl was rescued from a flat fire.

The girl was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after some cooking was left unattended. 

She was alone in the address in Highbank, Haywards Heath, at the time.

Fire crews were called to the flat shortly before 5pm on Thursday, February 25, after neighbours called 999. They could hear a smoke alarm sounding from inside the flat.

The crews from Haywards Heath were on scene ten minutes later. Initially they tried to get in the front door but could not because it was reinforced.

Matt Myerscough, watch manager at Haywards Heath Fire Station, told how firefighters got inside by smashing an A4-sized hole in a rear door.

They then squeezed through and rescued the girl from a bedroom.

Police arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man on suspicion of child neglect.

The man was released without any action being taken against him.

The girl was discharged from hospital the same evening.

The woman was initially released on police bail until today but this has now been extended to March 29 while enquiries continue.

A police spokesman said: "The West Sussex police Safeguarding Investigation Unit are working with West Sussex Fire and Rescue and West Sussex Children's Social Care to ensure the safety and well-being of the child."

Watch Manager Myerscough praised neighbours for their timely calls for help and highlighted the dangers of leaving cooking unattended, saying: "This just shows how close we came to a tragic incident."