Neighbours of a seafront building gutted in a huge fire say it was a accident waiting to happen.

One man suffered severe burns and is fighting for his life in hospital.

Flames raged through the property in Kings Road, Brighton, in a matter of minutes and reduced the building to a charred shell.

More than 60 were evacuated from neighbouring buildings. The city centre was gridlocked as traffic was diverted away from the seafront.

For many residents living nearby the fire was the climax of problems with a building they say has been neglected for years.

Since a new group of squatters moved in two weeks ago, residents have had countless sleepless nights.

A few hours before the fire started neighbours reported hearing banging, shouting and drunken behaviour. Furniture was thrown out of the windows.

Police were called and evicted 25 to 35 people from the building.

Dave Tribe, 36, who has lived in the next door property for six years, said: "Neighbours have been disgusted with the way the building has fallen into disrepair. It used to be divided up into small bedsit-type flats but when it became derelict squatters moved in. It has got worse since then."

The owners of Fudges Restaurant next door recently sold the business following constant problems with the empty building.

Another neighbour said: "We have had continual problems with both the state of the building and with squatters who moved in. It has been an absolute eyesore. I am not surprised it has come to this. At least now something will have to be done."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "We have served a number of building and conservation notices on the landlord of the property during the last few years.

"The building had fallen into a bad state of disrepair but he did not comply with our orders. The last we heard was that there was no one living there. We believed he may have decided to sell the property."

He confirmed the council had served a listed building enforcement notice which expired last month. Yet the back of the building which is covered with plastic sheeting has not been rebuilt.

The council plans to prosecute the landlord for allegedly not complying with this notice.

The Regency Square Area Society has been complaining for years about the state of the building in King's Road.

Former chairman Brian Smith said: "It is a listed building. We would like to see it restored and repaired."

One person was still unaccounted for last night but police said they were "fairly certain" there was no one left in the building.