A pensioner was dragged to safety after becoming trapped in her burning lounge.

Firefighters from Lancing and Worthing were called to the property in Gordon Road, Lancing, at 12.43am today.

They found the elderly woman in the smoke-filled lounge and helped her to safety.

She was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.

A small fire was put out in the lounge.

Firefighters were also called to to Slygates, Minstead, near Midhurst, on Saturday after it was believed a person was trapped in a burning cottage.

The fire, which started at about 9.50pm, had spread from the ground floor to the first-floor lounge of the semi-detached property when two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building.

Within minutes the missing person arrived home and firefighters were redirected to tackle the fire.

Crews from West Sussex and Hampshire took 90 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Some smoke damage was caused to the neighbouring property.

The causes of both fires were under investigation.