A pensioner has been credited with saving the lives of at least four people after a major fire in a high rise block of flats.

Taxi driver Barry Harby, 71, raced to the fifth floor of Wiltshire House in Lavender Street, Brighton, to warn residents about the blaze just after 1am yesterday (Friday).

Many of those in the building were unaware the fire had started because smoke alarms failed to sound.

Mr Harby, who lives on the fifth floor, said: "I heard a load of banging outside my flat and I thought it was kids at first so I called the police.

"The noise got worse so I went out onto the hall and it was full of smoke so thick you couldn't see the floor.

"I woke up the old lady who lives next door to me and then went around the other flats getting people up.

"I buzzed the fire crews in when they arrived and let them do the rest. I'm brave but I'm not stupid."

Mr Harby's daughter Jo Thomas said: "He's a real hero, he did brilliantly."

Fifty firefighters from across Sussex tackled the blaze.

One person suffering from burns and another with smoke inhalation were taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road, Brighton, for treatment.

A further ten people had to be led to safety from the 15-storey block of flats.

Mr Harby said yesterday that he was suffering from minor smoke inhalation but was otherwise fine.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze, which is believed to have started in the living room of a flat.

Firefighters at the scene said they could not find a smoke alarm in the flat which they said could have alerted the owners earlier.

The room was completely destroyed and the rest of the flat badly smoke damaged. The fifth floor was also damaged by smoke.

Roedean fire station watch commander Spencer Bartley said: "When we arrived there were plumes of smoke coming from the balcony and we could see the fire had really taken hold and was developing fast.

"We used a lift to rescue four people and helped lead ten others to safety.

"Around 20 firefighters went into the building wearing breathing apparatus while others worked from the outside using an aerial ladder.

"It was a very severe fire."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Roedean, Preston Circus in Brighton, Hove and Lewes and neighbouring West Sussex provided back up from Burgess, Hill, Haywards Heath and Shoreham.