A MAJOR fire erupted in a building which is home to vulnerable residents.

Flames ripped through the roof and black smoke could be seen billowing into the air as the blaze raged yesterday afternoon.

A witness described the scene as the “stuff of nightmares”.

The property in Wellington Road, Brighton, is divided into flats and houses residents with physical and mental learning disabilities.

They were quickly evacuated as fire crews tackled the flames.

One bystander said: “I hope there is no one still inside, it looks bad.

“I just really hope all the residents are OK and they don’t lose too much to the fire.”

Another passerby said: “There were a lot of flames and loads of smoke coming from the building

“I don’t know what caused it but the smoke looked really black like it was toxic.”

The fire was reported to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service at 1.33pm and crews rushed to the scene.

Four engines and multiple fire cars arrived in Wellington Road, off Elm Grove, shortly afterwards and quickly evacuated the building.

They were joined at the scene by several police officers who blocked off the road at each end with cars and tape.

An ambulance car also attended but it is not thought anyone was injured.

Groups of people gathered in the street to watch the incident unfold and residents from the building gathered outside and were spoken to by firefighters and a paramedic.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are in attendance at the scene of a fire in Wellington Terrace, Brighton.

“It is a fire in a roof. We have four engines in attendance. The fire is in its very early stages at this time.”

But crews acted quickly to extinguish the blaze and had the flames under control within an hour.

A spokesman said: “The scene has been made safe and most crews have been stood down.

“We have one engine left at the scene.

“Residents were evacuated from the building in the early stages and there were no injuries.

“We are now investigating the possible cause of the fire.”

Witnesses were full of praise the actions of the fire crews.

One said: “I have been here since the start and fire crews got here in no time at all. They had the flames out in no time, it was amazing to watch.”