A mother and her young son lost their two pets and most of their possessions when fire tore through their home while they watched a film at a neighbour's flat.

Rosie Retter and five-year-old Jamie were left with virtually nothing but the clothes on their backs after the blaze at their home in Victoria Road, Worthing.

The heat was so intense, it shattered the windows and destroyed almost everything inside the flat - including their Persian Blue cat, Bonnie, and Jamie's hamster, Bebe.

Ms Retter, 21, and Jamie were staying at a neighbour's home, watching a late-night film, when the fire started. Ms Retter heard three fire appliances pull up outside and went to the window to see smoke pouring from her home.

She said: "I collapsed in a heap when I saw it was my flat. I worked really hard to make it a home. It may have been stuff from charity shops but it was our home."

Crews from Worthing fire station had been called when an upstairs neighbour noticed smoke coming through his floorboards.

Ms Retter, a music technology student, lost furniture, clothes, a television and a video recorder. She was not insured and has been relying on donations from friends and family since her home was wrecked.

She is now sleeping on friends' sofas while her son stays with his grandmother.

It is believed the blaze may have been started by a computer left on standby.

Ms Retter said: "I'm pretty strong but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. I haven't had any time to myself to think or take it on board.

"I can replace material things but not the cat or my son's hamster. It's not a very good start to the year."