A family escaped unhurt after their shop went up in flames in a suspected arson attack.

Barnham Super Fayre in Lake Lane, Barnham, near Bognor Regis, was gutted by fire yesterday morning.

A man was later arrested after turning up at a hospital casualty unit with burn injuries.

Store owners Yash and Vijay Sobti and their family managed to escape when the fire broke out following an explosion at about 8am.

Mrs Sobti ran to the flat above to rescue her mother and one of her sons and escort them down an outside staircase, past the fast-growing blaze.

A customer in the convenience store used a fire extinguisher to try to help the family stop smoke and flames ravaging their business and home.

But he was unable to control the flames. Four fire crews battled for more than an hour to put out the blaze.

People living nearby were evacuated in case flames spread to their homes or to a former petrol station further along the road.

The Super Fayre has one flat on the top floor and is joined to orthopaedic footwear shop Prescription Footwear Associates, which was empty at the time.

The fire started near the back of the store, close to Churchill House, a complex of 16 flats for the elderly.

Karen Miles, 44, who lives across the road with her husband and two sons, said: "We heard a loud bang and shouting.

"We saw smoke coming from the back of the shop. There were two objects which were alight outside the shop.

"I don't know if they were something that had caught fire in the shop and been brought out. There was a man with a fire extinguisher."

Arundel fire station sub-officer Steve Lucas said: "There were people from the shop and people from the flats outside.

"It was a very serious fire. I am surprised there have not been any injuries."

Mr Lucas's crew and another from Littlehampton called for back-up and were assisted by more firefighters from Bognor and Littlehampton. While some tackled the fire at the rear, others wearing breathing gear went in the front to stop it spreading.

The shop is closed but the Sobtis hoped to be able to reoccupy the flat.

Later firefighters and police were examining evidence found at the scene.

Within two hours of the fire, a Barnham man in his 30s or 40s was arrested on suspicion of arson after arriving at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, with superficial burns.

He was being questioned at Chichester police station.

Inspector Mark Hammond said: "It appears a person went into the shop and there was some conversation. I am not sure if it was a row. Then there was an explosion and this man ran away.

"A Barnham male was arrested at St Richard's Hospital on suspicion of arson.

"At this stage we are not looking for anybody else."