Divine intervention has been credited with saving the lives of a vicar and his wife in a firebomb attack.

The Reverend John Wright and his wife Brenda were watching television at their Brighton vicarage when vandals hurled a petrol bomb at their front door.

Their home, next to St Cuthman's Church in Whitehawk, has been the target of several attacks and the couple first thought this was just another brick thrown at their door.

They ignored it until they smelled smoke.

A bottle filled with petrol had smashed against the wooden door and flames were licking up the front of the house at 9pm on Sunday.

Mr Wright, who has ministered at the church for 20 years, discovered the fire and started stamping out the flames.

Mrs Wright threw water and the fire was extinguished.

When asked if he was worried about future safety, the vicar looked to the heavens and replied: "We are being protected."

Mr Wright did not initially report the incident but later contacted police after learning of a similar attack at a nearby convenience store in Whitehawk Way.

As well as trusting in heavenly protection, Mr Wright locks all his internal doors at night while security grilles protect every window.

He said: "We are not frightened and we will not be leaving. I have a job to do here - and this incident is evidence to support that."

Mrs Wright said: "I think we are quite safe here. One night John went outside to look at a storm and lightning struck the ground right between his feet but missed him."

Mr Wright said he would be praying for those responsible for the attack.

He said: "There has been a marked improvement in vandalism around here and the vast majority of people are good. It is a small number who give the estate a bad name."

The second attack, on the One Step shop and post office in Whitehawk Way, caused minor damage to the roof and balcony.

At 10.30pm the same evening, youths poured petrol down a nearby alley and set fire to it, causing minor damage.

Police were linking all three incidents but said there was no evidence to connect them with a fire in the same street on New Year's Eve.

A grandmother and her two grandsons escaped unhurt after the suspected arson attack.

Anyone with information about the attacks can contact Brighton CID on 0845 6070999.