A woman who put lives at risk after a fire at her chip shop has been convicted of breaking fire regulations.

Samantha Coull admitted breaching the rules after a fire ripped through the Beach Break Café, in Kings Road Arches in Brighton, last April.

The shop had just one domestic smoke alarm, which was not working, leaving the lives of the three employees and Ms Coull herself at risk.

The fire started due to a build up of grease in a poorly-maintained extraction duct, which was set alight by a faulty chip fryer.

The blaze engulfed the chip shop taking eight fire engines to extinguish it .

Neighbouring buildings were forced to be evacuated.

Ms Coull admitted breaching a catalogue of safety rules including not having alarms or training employees in fire safety.

She pleaded guilty to six offences at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

Phil Blakemore, legislation and enforcement officer for East Sussex Fire and Rescue, said: “There was a degree of ignorance on her part with regards to legislation but in the court it is not a defence.

“There were a number of significant deficiencies.

“Ms Coull barely escaped from the fire unscathed due to the lack of early warning.”

Richard Fowler, head of protection for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, added: “It is disappointing that Ms Coull failed to fulfil her statutory duties to reduce the risk of fire at her business premises, as this failure resulted in a number of lives, including her own, being put at significant risk.”

“East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service would like to take this opportunity to remind all owners and occupiers of buildings of their legal responsibility to protect themselves, their staff and their property against the risk of fire.

“The public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety legislation very seriously.

Coull will be sentenced on August 9.