A father died after setting fire to his own home, police believe.

Firefighters found the body of Steven Love in his house in Telscombe Cliffs after neighbours saw smoke coming from the property and raised the alarm.

The 30-year-old was rushed to Royal Sussex County Hospital but doctors were unable to save him.

Last night police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.

Police were last night investigating the possibility that Mr Love, who was alone in the house in Carey Down, had taken his own life.

A post-mortem has yet to be held.

Neighbours dialled 999 at around 4pm on Saturday, February 4 when they spotted smoke coming from the house in the quiet cul-de-sac.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams said: “This is a tragic incident in which a man has died.

“Neighbours were quick to alert the fire service when they saw smoke within the house and firemen broke in to make the rescue.

“Together with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service we are investigating the circumstances of his death but are not treating it as suspicious.”

Details of exactly how the fire started and how Mr Love died have not been released at this stage.

Read more on this story inside today's Argus.

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