A man whose flat was gutted in a Christmas Day arson attack said today he feared for his life.

David Young said he was terrified of going back to the ground-floor flat at Lower Rock Gardens, Brighton, in case he was targeted again.

Mr Young was visiting friends when his home was burnt to a blackened shell. He lost all his possessions in the fire, which police are treating as arson.

Mr Young said: "If I hadn't been invited to a friend's for Christmas, I would have been there when it happened. The thought of it is terrifying.

"When a fire starts accidentally it's one thing but when it is targeted at you it's a horrible feeling."

Mr Young, 39, had only just been rehoused by the council after being homeless for several months.

He said: "It was a tremendous relief to get the flat but now I am back to square one.

"I am absolutely up the creek. I have lost all my possessions and now I'm homeless again. I can't believe it has happened. I'm still in shock."

A police spokesman confirmed the fire was being treated as arson.

He said a lump of rubble had been thrown through the front window before the blaze was started.

Officers are also investigating a suspected arson attack on a cafe in Elm Grove, Brighton.