A number of animals were burned alive when arsonists set fire to an East Sussex pet shop early today.

Two rabbits and several other caged pets were among those killed when flames gutted George's Pet Supplies in Sackville Road, Bexhill, at 4.30am.

Four Green Goddess engines from Eastbourne and Hastings were called to the scene after a neighbour raised the alarm.

Police launched an inquiry into the blaze and the store was cordoned off this morning. Detectives have appealed for witnesses.

A fire service spokesman said: "On arrival, the crews were faced with a serious fire which was quickly brought under control."

Since the latest strike started on Friday morning, there have been 87 incidents reported across the county.

A regular fire crew from Lewes abandoned their picket line on Saturday to free a mother and daughter trapped in their car wreckage.

They were joined by a Navy Green Goddess crew based at police headquarters in Lewes.

Crawley firefighters also left their protest to help free a man trapped when his Mercedes overturned after a crash on the M23.

Two Green Goddesses were sent to deal with a small fire in the ladies' toilet at Brighton station on Saturday.

Sussex is being covered by 16 Green Goddess crews from Royal Navy bases in the South.