A man drying underwear on his grill had to flee from his home when it caught fire.

Firefighters went to his house in Hampstead Road, Brighton at 7.50pm yesterday.

Officers entered the smoke-logged kitchen and put out the flaming socks and pants.

A spokesman said: "It appears the gentleman had put the items on the top off the grill but they had fallen on to the hob, which was hot, and caught fire."