Guests were evacuated after a suspected arson attack at a hotel in Hove today.

Firefighters led a woman in her 20s to safety during the blaze on the third floor of the Russell Lodge Hotel in Holland Road, just before 1am.

All four guests at the multiple-occupancy hotel watched from the street as fire crews spent 30 minutes bringing the flames under control.

Damage was confined to the third-floor room but the rest of the hotel was filled with smoke.

Guests were later allowed back in and a spokesman at the hotel today said: "We are open as usual."

A man was helping with police inquiries this morning.