A couple were rescued from their smoke-filled home early today after their smoke alarm woke a neighbour.

Julie Albury, 37, rushed to the scene of the blaze in Rochester Street, Whitehawk, Brighton, at 1.25am.

She saw smoke billowing through the letterbox of Jackie Gray and Michael Patton's end-of-terrace home and called the fire brigade.

Ms Albury said: "I could see Michael lying on the floor in the downstairs lounge.

"The fire brigade were fantastic. It was just like being in London's Burning. They broke down the door and carried Jackie out, where she passed out from the smoke.

"Then they brought Michael out and, because he was in the basement, he seemed to be okay.

"Even standing outside, the smell of smoke was making me cough so I dread to think of what it would be like to be in there."

Ms Gray, 54, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, and Mr Patton, 43, was treated at the scene for the effects of smoke.

The blaze is thought to have started in the kitchen.