A mother and her two daughters were trapped in their flat as fire and thick smoke filled the building's roof space.

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Faygate Court, Whitehawk Way, Brighton, told the 31-year-old to keep her daughters, ten and 11, and pet dog inside their home.

The trio and their pet were later led to safety.

Others in the five flats, including a mother and her one-year-old baby, were evacuated from the building.

The fire broke out shortly before 3am today in the centre roof space.

A candle in a bottle is thought to have toppled over and started the blaze.

Twenty firefighters from Hove, Preston Circus and Roedean, fought the fire.