Sunbed salon Sunblaze was wrecked by a fire thought to have been started by teenage arsonists.

The tanning studio has been open only six months.

James Vaughan, who runs the business jointly with his brother Gary, said: "We got a call from the fire brigade. It has wrecked us, absolutely wrecked us.

"There is £20,000 to £30,000 of damage at least."

The fire at the salon in Beatty Avenue, Coldean, Brighton, was started at about 10pm on Saturday.

Mr Vaughan said there had been a number of incidents recently when cars had been set alight and fires started at the library near his business.

He appealed for people to help catch the arsonists and put a stop to the attacks.

He said: "We hope somebody saw something and that will help bring the criminals to justice.

"We think it might have been youths who have been seen around but we don't know."

Firefighters dealt with the blaze and police were called. Forensic tests were conducted at the scene.

Mr Vaughan said: "They said there was petrol poured over the door and then ignited. The sunbeds are ruined, all the wiring is ruined, the front entrance doorway, glass, the ceiling and roof. Everything has just gone. We are trying to get it going again but obviously we don't know if we will be able to at this stage. I feel like crying. I am gutted, absolutely gutted."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0845 6070999.

An elderly woman was rescued from her flat by firemen after a neighbour spotted her unconscious on the floor.

She collapsed after smoke filled the kitchen of her third-floor flat at Barclay Court, The Esplanade in Bognor.

The neighbour saw smoke coming from the windows at lunchtime on Saturday.

The woman was taken to hospital where she is recovering.

Firefighters were called after a stolen car was set alight in Parham Close, off Craven Road, Brighton, on Saturday night.

The YMCA's William Collier House, in North Road, Brighton, had to be evacuated when fire alarms sounded at 1.20am yesterday when a small fire started as someone cooked food.