A milkman has been hailed a hero after he saved five people from being trapped in a fire - then continued his round.

Adrian Halley is to be recommended for a bravery award by fire crews who attended the blaze in Sackville Gardens, Hove.

Mr Halley was delivering milk when he spotted flames at the window of a house used as sheltered accommodation for vulnerable people.

He ran to the house to raise the alarm at 5am on Saturday.

A woman who came to the door told him she had called the fire brigade and he told her to get out of the building.

Mr Halley, 39, dashed inside and made sure the other residents were safely on their way out before tackling the blaze himself.

He found a fire extinguisher on the first floor and went into the room where the blaze had taken hold of the curtains. Mr Halley, who has worked for the Saltdean-based Coombe Farm Dairies for six years, had put the flames out by the time the fire brigade arrived.

Once he was sure everyone was safe, he gave his details to officers before leaving to complete his round.

Mr Halley, who lives in Sutton Avenue North, Peacehaven, with wife Alison, 39, and four daughters, said: "It sounds more dramatic than it was but I didn't really think about it at the time. I saw the flames and just did what anyone would do. A couple of the residents were already on their way downstairs and I told them to get out and then looked for an extinguisher."

Fire crews from Hove arrived to find the house filled with smoke but the flames out and all the occupants safely accounted for.

Sub-officer Andrew Goulsden said: "We will be putting Mr Halley forward for a commendation for his actions. The alarm in the building had gone off but the five occupants of the flats were somewhat confused and slow to react."

The fire is being treated as suspicious and an inquiry has been launched.