One flat was destroyed and another badly damaged in a fire at a Hove squat early this morning.

The blaze in Brunswick Street East is thought to have started two hours before firefighters were called.

The alarm was only raised when people living in nearby Brunswick Terrace dialled 999 after smelling smoke at about 1.55am.

Investigators believe it was caused by an electrical fault where cables had been connected to a wall.

There was nobody in the building at the time but neighbours had to be evacuated as smoke spread.

When the crews arrived they found the fire was actually in Brunswick Street East.

Eight firefighters wearing breathing masks and body suits searched the smoke-filled building for people but it was empty.

The first-floor flat where the fire started is thought to have been used as a squat. It was completely destroyed by the blaze.

The second-floor flat was empty when fire crews arrived. The person living there got home at 3am to be told it had been badly damaged by the spreading flames and smoke.

At the height of the operation 25 firefighters were involved.

Crews worked until 5am and were expected to return this morning to inspect the damage.

Crew commander Jamie Roberts, of Hove fire station, said: "No-one was harmed, which was lucky, and fortunately neighbours smelled the smoke and called the fire service."