Hundreds of guests were evacuated from a seafront hotel after a suspected arson attack in a locker room.

Staff and visitors poured outside Brighton's Hilton Metropole Hotel shortly after 8pm on Sunday when flames were reported.

They waited on the pavement for about 30 minutes while firefighters tackled the fire in a smoke-filled basement.

The hotel was fully booked during the bank holiday weekend but everyone had to leave the building.

Some guests who had been swimming in the hotel pool were still in their swimming costumes when the alarm sounded.

They managed to grab a towel before leaving the building and were given aluminium blankets by the fire crews to help keep warm as they waited on the street.

Crowds of passers-by watched as fire engines pulled up.

One onlooker said: "It was a strange sight seeing so many people outside the hotel.

"I wondered what was happening until the fire engines arrived and I realised the building must have been evacuated."

Two firefighters spent about 15 minutes controlling the fire, which appeared to have started in a pile of workers' overalls.

Crews stayed at the scene for an hour and a half to make sure the building was safe before giving the all-clear.

Brighton Station Officer Danny Sherman said: "We have marked the fire down as doubtful. We are not sure how it started and believe it may have been suspicious.

"Obviously if a similar fire broke out at the hotel again it is something we would have to look into."

While no further investigations were expected to be carried out at the eight-storey building, the incident has been logged for future reference.

A spokesman for Sussex Police, who were called to the hotel, said the force was waiting to hear from the Fire Brigade about any further investigations.

A spokesman for the hotel in King's Road, which has 328 rooms, was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, staff and hotel residents were evacuated after a tumble drier caught alight at the Albany Hotel in Grand Parade, Eastbourne.

The machine, in the hotel basement, began smoking shortly after 8.30pm yesterday.

Hotel staff managed to put out the small fire and called the fire brigade, who cleared the basement of smoke.

About 12 people waited outside the building until firefighters gave the all-clear.