A woman and her twin babies were led to safety after a fire broke out in their home.

Firefighters were called to a block of flats Palmeira Avenue in Hove in the early hours today after neighbours raised the alarm.

The woman, who was in a first floor flat, had not woken up wihen the fire alarm went off in the building so firefighters forced their way in, woke her up and helped her and the babies get out.

All three were checked over by paramedics but did not need hospital treatment.

The fire started in the kitchen where food had been accidentally left cooking but crews were able to deal with it quickly and the room only suffered minor damage.