Residents today relived the moment they were rescued by firefighters as flames swept through their building.

The huge fire in Warrior Square, St Leonards, was one of two which broke out at almost the same time, leaving East Sussex fire brigade at full stretch.

A total of 180 firefighters were called out from across the county.

In the first fire, 21 residents were rescued from a five-storey block of flats in Warrior Square. Just 90 minutes later another blaze started at a disused hotel in Crowborough.

Terrified Warrior Square residents fled to safety at 3.20am on Saturday through the entrance hall of Warrior House, a former hotel converted into 26 flats.

The fire in a ground-floor flat spread to the foyer, preventing them from escaping through the front door.

Firefighters brought in turntable ladders with rescue cages to lower people to safety.

Four elderly residents were taken to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, suffering from shock and the effects of smoke.

John Baker, 37, an electrical engineer who lives on the first floor of the building, said: "I was watching television and I smelt burning. Someone pressed my buzzer and shouted that there was a fire.

"I opened my front door and was faced with a wall of smoke."

Mr Baker waited on his balcony for the first firefighters to arrive.

He said: "They shouted for me to keep calm and I was rescued in one of their baskets."

Damien Thorne, who also lives on the first floor, was woken by a buzz on his intercom.

He said: "I thought it was kids messing about. When it went again I thought I would have to go down and sort them out.

"I opened the door and found the landing full of smoke."

About 90 minutes later, the second fire gutted the disused Winston Manor Hotel in Beacon Road, Crowborough, which is used by vagrants.

It took 80 firefighters to battle the flames and the A26 through Crowborough was closed for much of Saturday.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "It was a busy night and at one time we had virtually every appliance in service and every full and part-time firefighter committed to a fire or on standby."

Sub Officer Roger Bradgate said the hotel had now been demolished down to first-floor level.

He added: "We had one firefighter who hurt his ankle but he didn't leave the fire. He reported off sick today."

Fire broke out early yesterday in the two-storey Hellingly Hospital near Hailsham. Investigations are continuing.