ONE person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after a house fire in Portslade.

Emergency services were called at approximately 1pm to a blaze in Southdown Road.

Ambulance crews attended and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service, which was pictured landing in the playing field of Portslade Aldridge Community Academy.

The air ambulance team travelled in the ambulance to help treat the patient en route to the hospital.

Firefighters from Hove and Preston Circus attended the incident and used breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.

Pictures taken from the scene show the aircraft stationary on the field, while paramedics attend an incident.

A spokesman from the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We were called at approximately 1pm today to a house fire in Southdown Road, Portslade.

"Ambulance crews attended and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service.

"One person has been taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital by road in a serious condition.

"The air ambulance team joined travelled in the ambulance to help treat the patient en route to hospital."

A spokesman from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service added: "We were called 12:42 to attend a fire at a residential property on Southdown Road, Portslade.

"Firefighters from Hove and Preston Circus attended.

"Crews used two Breathing Apparatus and one Hose Reel Jet to extinguish the fire.  One casualty had self-evacuated and was handed over in to the care of SECAMB.

"A preliminary fire investigation has taken place and the cause of the fire has been deemed accidental. A further investigation will take place in due course."