A man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire which caused a couple to jump for their lives from a window.

The man and his wife suffered serious burns and other injuries in the incident in Whitebeam Road, Durrington, Worthing, on October 31.

The suspect, arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, is 26 and from Chislehurst in Kent.

He was picked up on Wednesday and released on Thursday pending further inquiries. He is due to answer bail on March 7.

Firefighters were called to the scene just after midnight when neighbours dialled 999 and reported a fire involving the front door and porch area of the house.

Charlie Fearn, 66, and his wife Chris, 57, almost died in the attack. Police believe it was started by a drugs gang targeting the wrong house.

The couple, said by friends to be "without an enemy in the world", had to jump from an upstairs bedroom window to escape the flames.

Charlie broke his back in three places while Chris was badly burned and both spent weeks recovering in Worthing Hospital.

Their three sons Darren, 39, Lee, 36, and Stuart, 31, had no idea whether their parents would live or die. But the pair made a remarkable recovery and are now staying at Stuart's house in Sompting.

The Argus and Sussex Police each offered £1,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

The Argus at Christmas sent a hamper of goodies to the couple, courtesy of The Argus Appeal.

Chris said: "I am doing fine now. We have had so much help from my sons and daughters-in-law and we have been well looked after."

The couple lost everything except for some photos and items their grandchildren had made.

Chris said: "The most important thing is we are safe and okay.

"We are so lucky. We may have lost a lot of things but we didn't lose people and that's what we are all grateful for."

Charlie is making good progress and is able to get around using walking sticks. He still has a wheelchair but doctors believe in the next few weeks he will be more mobile.

The couple are not planning to return to their home of 28 years. They hope to move into a new home later this year.

Police are still investigating the attack and appeal to anyone with information to call 0845 6070999.