A three-year-old girl was badly burned when she fell on to the smouldering remains of an illegal fire on the beach.

Little Jasmine Harrison's fingers may be permanently damaged from the terrifying ordeal.

She is the second toddler this week to suffer severe burns from hot ashes left on Brighton and Hove's beaches and police vowed to step up patrols and prosecute people starting illegal fires.

Jasmine's mother Denise, 39, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, said: "I have been having nightmares about Jasmine or other children falling face-first into a fire which someone has left burning.

"My little girl is badly scarred and was in terrible pain thanks to someone's stupidity."

Ms Harrison was on the beach near Hove's Peace Statue on Tuesday at around 2pm with Jasmine and her sister Poppy, five.

She said: "The girls were having a great time running around when Jasmine suddenly started screaming.

"I dashed over but could not see what was wrong.

"Then I saw a patch of ashes. I was horrified when I realised it was smouldering and she had burnt herself.

"She was hysterical."

Jasmine was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children where her blistered fingers were cleaned and dressed.

Jasmine was being examined at the McIndoe Burns Centre in East Grinstead yesterday for permanent damage to her fingertips.

Ms Harrison added: "The fire must have been from the previous evening or the early hours of the morning.

"Both her hands were burnt but three fingers are particularly bad. The heat has even charred her finger nails."

Fires on the beach are illegal and anyone who wants to hold a barbecue must obtain a licence from Brighton and Hove City Council.

But the law is routinely ignored and on warm summer nights dozens of fires can be seen burning on the beach.

Ms Harrison said: "It happened inches away from a sign warning people not to light fires. They are simply ignored.

"If people are going to do it they should at least have the decency to make sure they are doused with water.

"Perhaps the council should make sure all fires are out during morning patrols.

"We love the beach but if things like this happen people will start questioning the safety of going down there."

Steve Wright, of East Sussex Fire Brigade, said: "You only have to look at the number and severity of injuries sustained over the past few weeks in East Sussex alone to understand the dangers of not following basic safety procedures when using disposable barbecues.

"We are seeing a growing number of injuries, mainly to children, as a result of illegal barbecues on beaches.

"Many retailers now sell stands for disposable barbecues which will not only help to avoid injuries such as these but will also deal with the growing problem of scorched grass leading to grassland and forest fires."

Another three-year-old boy is receiving treatment after burning the soles of his feet and his bottom while walking with his family near the Peter Pan playground in Kemp Town on Monday.

He was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital before being taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury.