A squirrel has been blamed for starting a blaze which swept through the roof of a Victorian house.

The animal had been munching on power cables.

Fire crews were called to the building, converted into 12 bedsits, by neighbours who spotted smoke billowing through the gable windows at 2.45pm yesterday.

Police had to restrain two of the 12 tenants who tried to run back inside the building in Granville Road, Eastbourne, to claim belongings.

The street was blocked off and onlookers ushered to each end of the street as firefighters scaled ladders to control flames leaping from the roof.

Joseph Fernandez has lived on a flat on the middle floor for eight months.

He said: "I didn't panic. Some people just knocked on my door and we all went out. The fire was in the roof so we didn't see it at first."

One man whose father owns the building, but who declined to be named, was contacted by police through one of the residents.

He said his father, who lives abroad, did not have insurance as houses in multiple occupancy were difficult to find cover for.

He said: "The people on the top floor told me it was an electrical problem. They said there was no electricity then they smelt smoke.

"They came outside and one of the neighbours had called the fire brigade.

"The residents told me they had seen a squirrel on the roof and he may have eaten through electrical wires."

Neighbour Nigel Pittet has lived next door for nine months.

He said "There was smoke coming off my roof as well."

Nine crews from Eastbourne, Battle, Seaford, Newhaven, Uckfield, Roedean, Hove, Broad Oak and Hastings attended.

Fire investigation teams were starting work and were expected to return to the scene today.