Children were told to take an extra day's holiday after a fire raged through a country house near their West Sussex school.

Flames gutted part of the 13th Century home in The Street, Thakeham, near Storrington, as more than 100 firefighters battled the blaze.

Police blocked all roads leading to the fire at The Old Rectory and a neighbouring house, leaving the 70 youngsters from nearby Thakeham First School unable to get to lessons on the first day of the new term.

Messages were passed on to parents to tell them not bring children in.

The fire ripped through the roof, causing part of the rectory to collapse. Those inside managed to escape safely when smoke triggered a fire alarm at 3.20am.

They escaped injury but were treated at the scene after breathing in smoke.

Widow Sue Jarman, who lives opposite, said: "I was woken up by the smell of smoke and all the noise. I was really frightened. There were flames leaping out of the roof. It is one of the oldest buildings in the village."

Station Officer Gary Towson, of West Sussex Fire Brigade, said: "This was a very serious fire. Although the roof was not thatched it had several different pitches and some parts were quite difficult to reach.

"It is sad to see such a lovely old building damaged by fire and the owners are obviously very upset. But hopefully, as the majority of the fire was confined to the roof area, it can be reconstructed."

Another fire brought busy roads to a standstill in Worthing yesterday.

More than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze in the roof of The Samaritans' offices in Lennox Road shortly after 12.45pm.

Crowds gathered to look at the smoke billowing out of the two-storey building. The site has been home to The Samaritans for more than two decades.

Fire brigade Sub Officer Shaun Lawrence said the fire was thought to have started in the roof, where contractors had been working.

Both fires are still being investigated.