THIS is the dramatic moment a fire threatened to rage out of control at a seafront pub.

Drinkers were rushed out of the Schooner in Albion Street, Southwick, on Friday night following a fire in the kitchens.

Remarkably nobody was hurt but it is believed the building in badly damaged.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) said the cause of the fire was accidental, and that it took hold in the first-floor roof void.

It is believed to have started in the kitchen of the gastro pub and spread up through the back of the property.

WSFRS was unable to say yesterday what the exact cause of the fire was.

Dave Croydon, 68, was having dinner with his partner Annette Sherrington, 64.

He said: "There seemed to be, I would not say a a panic but a hoo-ha going on in the kitchen. We had finished our meal and went to get some more drinks and we were asked to leave, so we took our drinks outside.

"It was all very peaceful for us, but obviously not for the staff or owners. I ended up leaving a coat there which my partner went back to get over the weekend."

Ms Sherrington said: "We were inside when some people came in to say there was smoke upstairs, and one of the staff members went out to look then phoned the fire brigade. There must have been about ten or 12 people inside at the time.

"There was a lot of smoke and I could see there were flames, too. I think there is a lot of damage.

"It was the first time we had been there and were very much enjoying it - the food was lovely."

WSFRS service confirmed it was called at 6.41pm on Friday evening, and sent engines from Shoreham and Hove.

Ashley Pilkington, 24, who took the dramatic photographs, was driving home from work when he saw the blaze.

He said: "There was smoke billowing out of the building and you could see flames coming out of the upstairs window. There were a lot of firefighters. It looked quite serious."

The Schooner could not be reached for comment over the weekend.