A bungalow was destroyed in a blaze described as "like something from the Blitz."

At the height of the fire roof tiles were being scattered over neighbouring gardens.

One firefighter was hurt when he was struck by an exploding tile.

Others narrowly escaped injury when the chimney collapsed without warning before the bungalow imploded.

The bungalow's elderly owner is on holiday and there was nobody in the building when the blaze began.

Sub Officer Bruce Townsend, from Roedean fire station, said: "It was a bit like something out of the Blitz, with fire coming out of every window. The last thing that happened was all the walls came falling in."

More than 20 firefighters from Brighton and Newhaven were called to the blaze at Northwood Avenue, Saltdean.

By the time they arrived at 3.30am this morning the flames were already pouring out of most of the 1930s-style bungalow's windows.

Mr Townsend said: "There was no smoke, there were just flames coming out of every orifice. The roof had gone by the time we got there."

As the walls weakened, the chimney toppled.

Mr Townsend said: "It was quite spectacular, there was no warning but thankfully there was nobody underneath it."

The fire was under control as the rest of the building collapsed.

Firefighters said the bungalow and its contents were destroyed.

Next door neighbour Michael Foster was asleep when the fire started. He said: "We heard this noise and thought it was fireworks going off.

"My wife went to the living room window and the roof was alight, the bungalow roof."

Investigators were trying to establish the cause of the fire this morning. The blaze is thought to have started in the roof area but arson has been ruled out.

Contractors had been working in the building while Mrs Drake was away.