A man died today after his wife was rescued from a fire at their home.

Jim Rushman was pulled unconscious from his first-floor flat in Hangleton Road, Hove.

His wife Sandra was helped from the building by firemen who broke down their front door after neighbours raised the alarm.

Mr Rushman was found on a burning bed in the front bedroom and stretchered to a waiting ambulance.

Mrs Rushman was in a separate bedroom talking by phone to staff at East Sussex Fire Brigade control who were trying to keep her calm.

They were both taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where Mr Rushman later died.

His wife was being treated for shock and the effects of breathing in smoke.

A passing motorist raised the alarm after seeing smoke coming from the flat soon after 7.30am.

Neighbours banged on the couple's door in a desperate attempt to rouse them but got no reply.

They knew Mr Rushman suffered from emphysema and had difficulty breathing.

Gavin and Denise Smith, who live next door, said firemen arrived moments later and tried to break down the door.

Mr Smith said: "They tried to kick it in but it wouldn't give so they used a ram to break it down.

"They had a few problems because there's not much room to move at the top of the stairs.

"They found Jim in one of the bedrooms and brought him out. We heard the ambulanceman say he was unconscious and had bad burns.

"Jim had emphysema and was quite a heavy smoker. He used to get up early and then go back to bed for a lie-in."

The couple had lived in the block for more than 20 years. Their son James, in his 30s, is believed to live in Chichester.

Mrs Smith said: "They were a nice couple who kept themselves to themselves most of the time."

Dana Hayes, who lives below the Rushmans, said at first she thought her flat was on fire.

She said: "A neighbour banged on the door and said that a flat with blue curtains was on fire.

"My son has got blue curtains in his bedroom and I thought it was his room on fire, then realised it must be upstairs."

Station officer Graham Grey said: "We rescued a male unconscious from one of the bedrooms and assisted a female from another room.

"The fire was confined to the bedroom the male was taken from.

"Unfortunately, there were no smoke alarms fitted in the flat which might have raised the alarm earlier and given the occupants a chance to get out before the fire took hold."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "A male taken from the property has since died. The coroner has been informed."