A man was rescued by firefighters after flames tore through a derelict Worthing pub in the early hours of this morning.

The brigade was called after a passing police patrol saw smoke rising from the former Rivoli pub in Chapel Road just after 4am.

Crews put on oxygen masks and used thermal imaging equipment to find the man, who was pulled to safety.

Fire engines from Lancing and East Preston then spent 90 minutes dousing the flames.

The blaze is thought to have started in the ground-floor bar area.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire Brigade said the property was believed to house squatters.

The Rivoli - formerly the Railway Hotel, and later the Lennox - shut in November following the death of its landlord, Jim McSpirit. It is due for demolition.

The pub once boasted a magnificent oak-panelled boardroom which staged concerts and football presentation nights.

Mr McSpirit's widow, Stacey, said: "It must have been vandals who got in. I know there are no squatters there.

"Someone told me they'd moved out. I haven't been back since Jim died. It's very sad, because he loved it so much."

A spokesman for Sussex Police added: "There have been no arrests. We are awaiting the fire brigade to look at it first.

"The fire investigation people are there and they are in the process of contacting our scenes of crime officers. They need to discuss whether it is of doubtful origin but it's still too early to say."