A hero window-cleaner saved the life of a teenage girl who was trapped in a burning building and screaming for help.

The 18-year-old was stuck in an upstairs bedroom of her home in South Street, Lewes, at 1pm today after a chip pan fire broke out and spread noxious smoke through the house.

Watch commander Martin Lusk, from Lewes Fire Station, said: "The first she knew of what was happening was when she heard noises in the house.

"She said she thought someone had come in and when she opened the bedroom door to look what was happening she found the house full of smoke."

A fire had spread from the chip pan and was raging through the kitchen.

The girl, unable to make her way down the stairs, slammed the door, rushed to the window and began calling for help.

Mr Luck said: "She was lucky. There was a window cleaner working nearby and he brought his ladders and helped her to climb to safety.

"We don't know who he was, he left when we arrived and didn't leave his name."

An ambulance was called to help the girl and she was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. She was not seriously injured. No-one else was in the house at the time.

Three fire crews from Lewes, Brighton and Barcombe spent two hours extinguishing the flames and damping down the building.

Mr Lusk said: "We're grateful to whoever the window cleaner was for stepping in to help. It was a good thing he did."