Firefighters have rescued families and pets from a block of flats after they caught fire.

The blaze, in Northcliffe Road in Bognor, saw 11 people checked over by paramedics after families were rescued by ladders from the property.

A pet rabbit and three dogs also escaped the blaze unscathed with their owners following the incident at around 4.30am this morning. The fire has now been extinguished.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said on Twitter: “This morning our firefighters rescued several people, including children and pets from flats which were on fire near Bognor Regis. We were called at 4.35am and three crews attended the incident in Northcliffe Road.

“Two women and a pet rabbit were rescued by ladder from a first-floor flat. A family of four, including three children, were rescued from a second flat via ladder.

“Firefighters helped a woman out of a window of a third ground-floor flat. And five adults managed to self-rescue from a fourth flat along with their three dogs.

“Paramedics from Secamb carried out medical assessments on 11 people as a precaution. The fire was extinguished and we are likely to retain a presence at the scene today.”