Fire may have destroyed puppets used by Britain's longest-serving Punch and Judy man.

Flames tore through Mike "Sergeant" Stone's second-floor flat in Lewes Road, Brighton, yesterday.

Mr Stone, who has been performing his traditional seaside act in Brighton for 28 years, was away and unaware of the blaze.

His portable stage survived but firefighters found what they fear were charred remains of puppets.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen and swept through the rest of the flat. A passer-by spotted the flames and raised the alarm.

Kim Noel, 33, who runs GK White estate agents with her partner on the ground floor, feared Sgt Stone was inside.

She said: "The man forced open the front door and used an extinguisher but the smoke was so thick."

Miss Noel and the man were treated later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton for smoke inhalation.

Station Officer Grant Eager said flames and smoke were pouring through the roof and windows by the time crews arrived.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Mr Eager said an electrical fault in the kitchen was the suspected cause but an investigation was continuing.

Police cordoned off the area while fire crews cleared charred debris from the flat.