A grandmother and her two grandsons escaped unhurt after a suspected arson attack on New Year's Eve.

Horrified neighbours feared Christine Harmer could be trapped in her home in Whitehawk Way, Brighton, when smoke and flames were seen billowing from the building shortly before 8.30pm.

The blaze is being investigated by Brighton CID, who spent yesterday morning conducting house-to-house inquiries on parts of the Whitehawk Estate.

One of Ms Harmer's grandsons, Danny, ten, managed to escape through the kitchen window and rushed next door to alert neighbours Fred and Lorna Allam.

The youngster banged on the couple's door saying the house was on fire and his nan and brother were trapped.

Mr Allam, 60, a street cleaner who works for Brighton and Hove City Council, dialled 999 and then went outside to see the property engulfed in smoke.

Flames were licking the front door and hallway.

Ms Harmer and her grandson managed to escape through the kitchen window of the smoke-filled house before the fire spread.

Ms Allam, 47, said: "I had just got dressed up for New Year's Eve and I heard the sound of a loud bang. I thought it was a firework or somebody slamming a door.

"Then there was frantic knocking on the door and it was Danny saying the house was on fire.

"Fred immediately dialled 999 and told the emergency services people were trapped inside."

Two appliances from Roedean were on the scene in minutes and put out the blaze at the end-of-terrace house.

Mr Allam said: "I was so relieved when after dialling 999 I rushed out to find everyone had got out all right.

"The young lad was very quick to jump out of the window and alert us.

"It was lucky we were in. I told them you can lose all your possessions but lives are more important.

"Thank god the boys were able to help their grandmother out of the house."

Ms Harmer and her grandsons are now being cared for by relatives in Portslade because the house has been severely damaged, especially the ground floor.

Sergeant Graham Stickings of Brighton CID said: "We are investigating the fire and cannot say what is the cause at this stage."