Firefighters were called to a blaze which gutted a first-floor flat last night.

The alarm was raised just before 9pm and it was originally feared people were trapped inside the burning three-storey building in Preston Road, Brighton.

Three crews from nearby Preston Circus were at the scene within minutes and found there was no-one inside.

Flames engulfed the bedroom and kitchen and badly damaged the entire flat.

Firefighters managed to control the blaze within anhour.

The rest of the building was slightly damaged by smoke.