Proud mother Susan Thorncroft today hailed her young sons life-saving heroes.

Flames and smoke tore through their home in the early hours of yesterday and the children were left with just the nightclothes they were wearing.

But the youngsters' quick action helped the family of five escape unhurt.

The blaze broke out at 4am at their home in Telscombe Road, Peacehaven, when a lamp fell off a desk and slipped under bedclothes on five-year-old Ben's bunk bed.

Ben, who shares his room with his brother Calum, nine, was woken by smoke and went into his 15-year-old brother Liam's bed in the next room.

Then Calum smelled the smoke and woke Liam, who went into his younger brothers' bedroom, found it filled with black fumes, and woke his parents.

Mrs Thorncroft, 35, and her 37-year-old husband took the children downstairs, called the fire brigade and left the house.

Mrs Thorncroft said: "My boys are heroes and we are safe and well thanks to them.

"Their bedroom was destroyed and ours was badly damaged.

"The children lost all their toys and clothes and are left with what they were wearing at the time.

"We can't live in the house until it is repaired and we are going to have to stay in an hotel paid for by our insurance company, we hope."