Arsonists are suspected of having started a blaze which seriously damaged three homes.

Furniture and rubbish which had been piled up outside flats as they were being renovated was set alight shortly before 8.30pm tonight.

Neighbours watched as 40ft flames licked up the front of the building in Christchurch Road, Worthing, and melted the guttering on the roof.

The three-storey townhouse, just a short distance from the town's law courts, had been converted into flats, two of which were empty but the third of which is lived in.

Fire crews from Worthing had to smash their way into the building in case the woman was in her third floor flat as they fought the flames.

Police closed a section of the road while the firefighters spent half an hour bringing the blaze under control.

Residents from the adjoining homes were evacuated in case the fire spread along the street.

Neighbour Robert Gillingham said: "The flames were up to 40ft tall. I looked outside and saw the whole thing going up.

"The windows had buckled and neighbours were scared sparks from the fire would spread to their homes."

All three flats were severely damaged by smoke and their windows shattered from the heat of the fire but nearby homes escaped untouched.

Watch commander Darren Wickings, from Worthing fire station, said: "We could see the flames all the way back from Broadwater bridge as we were on our way.

"There was a huge pile of rubbish in the garden which was all on fire.

"This was a very serious incident. Had it occurred in the early hours of the morning when the occupant was in it could have been far worse."

Tonight fire investigation officers and a police scenes of crime team were trying to work out exactly what started the fire.