A sleeping driver was rescued from his lorry early today after the back of the vehicle was set alight.

Police were called to the blazing lorry in Downland Close, Southgate, Crawley, at 12.45am after residents spotted flames coming from the trailer.

The driver, from Wales, was in his sleeper cab and unaware of the fire. He was led to safety.

Thirty-five fire fighters from Crawley, Horley, Horsham, Turners Hill and Worthing attended the blaze which is believed to have been started deliberately.

The trailer contained five tonnes of rolled fibre glass loft insulation which took three hours to put out.

Horsham station officer Malcolm Cooper said: "The lorry was well alight when we arrived.

"The driver had been asleep in the cab when the back of the lorry was opened and set alight.

"The police woke the driver and got him out of the cab.

" He was very lucky, his life could have been in danger."

Mr Cooper said firefighters wore breathing apparatus so they didn't inhale fibre glass particles. The lorry was in a parking area and not near any houses or buildings.

He said: "The driver was new to the area and not familiar with recognised stop-over areas in Faygate and Pease Pottage."

Two juveniles are being questioned by police.