Eight people fled into the street in freezing conditions after a television set caught fire.

Residents living in seven flats got themselves out of the building in Upper Rock Gardens, Brighton, as it filled with smoke.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service crews from Preston Circus and Roedean fire stations were quickly on the scene at 1.30am today.

A spokesman said: “There was a small fire in one of the bedrooms of a three bedroom flat in the property.

“Everyone was out of the building by the time we got there.

“We put out the fire in the television set with one hose reel. Nobody was hurt.”