Patients were evacuated from the Princess Royal early this morning after a blaze broke out when an iron overheated.

Fire crews helped move 24 patients after the fire started at around 2am. The blaze happened in the hospital's Villa block, its acute mental health unit.

It is believed the fire started after an iron in a laundry room was left on and overheated after it made contact with a cable. But the exact cause is still being investigated by fire brigade experts.

Patients in their nightclothes were led out of the building and up a corridor to safety.

Stefan Cantore, deputy chief executive of Mid Sussex NHS Trust, said: "A member of staff tried to put it out with an extinguisher.

"She didn't feel she was able to complete the job so she pressed the fire alarm button and called the fire brigade.

"Clearly, any fire is dangerous but it was quickly identified. The damage to the building was very minor, estimated to be less than £500."

No one was injured.