An off-duty East Sussex firefighter died today during a heroic attempt to rescue his brother from their burning family home.

Alex Kent, who was based at Crowborough, led his parents to safety before dashing back into house to try to save his younger brother, Philip.

But when colleagues from the town's fire station arrived the bodies of both men, believed to be in their mid-20s, were discovered inside.

Mr Kent's parents, Richard and Janet, were not seriously hurt and four other firefighters injured in the blaze escaped serious harm.

Crowborough firefighters were in shock and unwilling to comment this morning but a brigade spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the family and crews in Crowborough who have lost one of their colleagues."

The fire, at Fermor Way, broke out at 2.25am.

Neighbour Lawrence Maunder, 58, a retired land registry officer, said: "This type of thing puts life in perspective. We have just booked a holiday and we woke in the middle of the night and saw the house in flames.

"It was so very fierce. There were flames coming out from the front door then it started coming out of the upstairs window.

"It just seemed to be getting bigger and bigger all the time."

Mr Mander said he saw firefighters bring one of the victims out on to the pavement and attempt to revive him.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "He got his parents out and then went back in to rescue his brother - and that is the last anyone saw of them."

Fire investigation officers were this morning sifting through charred rubble in the quiet residential street, where bouquets have already been laid.

The house, a two-storey detached building and adjoining garage, was gutted and a section of the roof collapsed.

A Home Office forensic scientist was joining the brigade's own specialist fire officers at the scene but the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Sussex Police scenes-of-crime officers were also taking photographs of the house.