A woman dragged from a hotel fire by other guests has been arrested on suspicion of arson.

The 45-year-old was rescued by other guests and staff at the Premier Inn on North Street on Wednesday night.

After being treated for smoke inhalation she was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “We are investigating arson.

“We were called at about 9pm by the fire and rescue service.

“A woman from London, who was staying at the hotel, was taken to the Royal Sussex County hospital for smoke inhalation.

“She was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.”

The woman was last night (THURS) still in police custody.

Two further guests and two members of hotel staff had to be given oxygen after inhaling smoke as they tried to rescue the woman.

Brighton fire station manager Tony Gurr said: "The fire was in one of the rooms on the second floor.

"The fire was outside the bathroom and the cause is doubtful.

"Luckily enough the smoke alarms alerted the residents to the fire. There were a few stragglers that had to be evacuated by the fire and rescue service."

The whole second floor of the hotel was smoke-logged, but the fire was contained to one room.

A Premier Inn spokeswoman said: "Two team members were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, from helping to get the guest out of her room too.

"All other guests were able to re enter the building around 10.30pm, after the hotel paid for them to have drinks and to keep warm in a pub close to the hotel."

Hotel guest Ian Burrell, of Leicester said: "I was on the third floor.

"The alarms went off at around 8.45pm.

"You could really smell the smoke as you went down the stairs."