A man jumped from a first floor window to escape from a blazing house.

Rick Windle was trapped in the semi-detached house in Wordsworth Road, Worthing, as flames leapt from downstairs windows.

Passers-by alerted the fire brigade and four appliances were sent from Worthing and Lancing.

Firemen searched the building after they were told there could be other people trapped inside.

It later became clear that Mr Windle was the only person inside the building and he too had managed to phone the fire brigade before jumping from the building.

A brigade spokeswoman said: "Crews arrived to find a severe fire with flames and smoke leaping from the ground floor windows.

"A thorough search of the building was made after we were told that there might be other people trapped, but nothing was found."

Mr Windle was believed to be staying with his former wife at an address in Worthing last night.

The cause of the blaze was still under investigation today.