Forty people were evacuated after fire broke out in a four-storey block of flats.

Two fire crews from Shoreham, two from Worthing and one from Barcombe were called to the scene.

The blaze started on the second floor of Park Court in Davigdor Road, Hove, just before 1.30pm on Thursday.

No one was hurt and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is still investigating the cause.

One resident claimed malfunctioning smoke detectors had put them in danger.

Leona Lovegay, 48, claimed the housing association responsible for the flat, Sanctuary Housing, had not placed adequate fire safety measures to protect residents.

But Sanctuary said the smoke alarm had sounded as it should and alerted the fire service.

Mrs Lovegay said: “I live on the third floor and when the fire started downstairs we didn’t know about it. The fire alarm did not ring and my smoke alarm did not go off.

“I was with my nephew at the time and we only realised there was a fire when four police cars and four fire engines headed towards our flat.

“Luckily my nephew was here with me otherwise I wouldn’t know what would have happened. I live with MS and I have osteoporosis.

Ms Lovegay also complained there were no fire extinguishers.

She said: “This is just dangerous because a fire can spread so easily. I have asked Sanctuary Housing before to install more fire alarms and to fix our smoke alarms but they did nothing.”

But Daren Nowlan, operations director at Sanctuary Housing, said: “The smoke alarm activated as it should do in this case, which meant the fire service could extinguish the fire safely and no one was hurt.

“Our sympathies are with the resident whose home was damaged by this fire and we are supporting them with temporary accommodation while their home is repaired.

“Park Court is a four storey, purpose-built block of flats and Government guidance does not require residents to be evacuated if a fire is contained within one particular flat.

“Each flat has a smoke alarm, which the residents are responsible for testing on a monthly basis and are responsible for reporting it as a repair.

“As required by government guidance, there are no fire alarms or fire extinguishers in corridors and staircases because there is perceived to be more risk to life if people from unaffected areas start accumulating in corridors and staircases.”