Guests fled from a Worthing hotel in their pyjamas when a fire took hold of the basement.
About 35 guests were led from the Berkley Hotel on Marine Parade at 7am this morning.
They had to walk 200 yards along the seafront, some with bare feet, to the Beach Hotel while firefighters doused the flames.
Leading firefighter John Barker said: "Everyone, guests and staff, were led to safety on to the promenade.
"The fire had started in a bin in the staff room."
The basement was smoke damaged but nobody was injured.
The guests were given tea and coffee at the Beach Hotel before going back to the Berkley Hotel within an hour.
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