A family were lucky to be alive after part of a ceiling came crashing down as they slept during today's storms.

The heavy masonry and plaster was brought down as rain weakened the roof and ceiling of their flat in Portland Road, Hove.

Foyzul Choudhary, owner of Papodom's Indian restaurant underneath the flat was asleep with his wife, Jubuda, and their four-year old daughter Dihan.

Mr Choudhary said: "I heard a very loud crack and then saw the ceiling coming down.

"It just missed my wife and daughter but some of it hit my leg as it fell on the bed.

"Luckly, the duvet protected me so apart from a bruise I don't have any injuries.

"We are very fortunate. If just a little more of the ceiling had come down it would have fallen right on top of us and we would have been badly hurt.

"We have had problems with the roof for years and keep telling the landlord about it.

"Part of the ceiling came down in the back room six months ago, but nothing was done."

Mr Choudhary said the flat was no longer safe to live in and he was trying to get Brighton and Hove Council to find somehwere for them.

He said the restaurant had not been affected and would be open for business as normal tonight.

A fire crew from Hove helped clear away the fallen masonry and checked for structural damage.