A woman was arrested after she tried to set fire to a petrol station last night.

Police and firecrews were called in by worried staff after they spotted her on the forecourt.

The middle-aged woman, who has not been named, walked into the Esso service station in Lewes Road, Brighton, on Friday night.

Witnesses said she removed the nozzles from two pumps and tried to spray petrol across the forecourt.

Her attempts failed because quick-thinking staff switched the pumps off.

She then tied her scarf around the nozzle of a third pump and set fire to it with a cigarette lighter.

The small blaze had burnt itself out by the time crews from Preston Circus fire station arrived at the scene.

Sub-officer Grant Eager said: "She seemed a bit upset about something and was not too happy when the police turned up and arrested her.

"She had walked along the Lewes Road banging dustbin lids on all the shop windows before she got to the garage.

"For reasons best known to herself she decided she wanted to set fire to it.

"All the pumps have isolators to help prevent fire spreading so there was little chance of a major incident.

"However, we don't recommend that anyone should have a naked flame of any kind near petrol."

A spokesman at the service station said: "I wasn't here when it happened but the area by one of the pumps is a bit blackened.

"I don't think it was a very serious fire and we are open for business as usual today."