Two elderly women were led to safety after an electric blanket caught fire at their maisonette in Eastbourne.

Firefighters led the pensioners, aged 85 and 95, from their home in Dickens Way, Langney.

One pensioner had been woken at 3am today by flames licking at her bed covers after her electric blanket caught light.

She tried to douse the fire before dialling 999.

The pair were taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.