Fire safety experts today urged people to buy a smoke alarm during the Christmas sales after three people escaped from a blaze.

The occupants were sleeping in a town centre cottage yesterday morning when a smoke alarm went off.

They fled into the street and were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.

Firefighters said without the alarm, which went off at about 7.45am, the occupants could have been trapped by the flames and choking fumes.

Investigators blamed the incident in Park Road, Worthing, on a faulty TV in the lounge that set fire to the Christmas tree.

Survivor Raquel Gomez, 26, said: "We woke up to find the TV on fire. We tried to put a fire blanket over it but the flames ignited the Christmas tree next to the TV.

"Within minutes the whole room was on fire. We left the house and called the fire service.

"We've lost everything in the house, including our presents, which were under the tree.

"But at least we are all alive. The two smoke alarms in the house saved our lives.

"Minutes after we got out of the house everything had been destroyed."

Raquel, who is from Madrid and works as a nurse at Worthing Hospital, said the group had watched TV until late and had left the set on standby.

She and Sergio Saorin, 23, had invited their friend Ainhoa Martin, 23, for dinner on Christmas Eve and she had decided to stay the night.

Three fire engines were sent from Worthing Fire Station to the two-storey end-of-terrace house in the shadow of the town's giant gas holder.

Crews put out the fire and stopped it from spreading to neighbouring properties but the cottage was severely damaged and the windows were today boarded up.

Assistant Divisional Officer Peter Martin said the occupants, despite losing their home and its contents, were very lucky to escape.

Mr Martin urged householders to take advantage of the sales and buy a smoke detector.

He said: "The ground floor of the house will have to be rebuilt before it can be lived in again.

"The upstairs was very smoke damaged. On this occasion, if these people hadn't had a smoke alarm they would have died.

"They got out by the skin of their teeth. Smoke alarms cost only a few pounds and everyone should have one.

"People should test them once a week and change the batteries regularly. Look after them and they will look after you."