Nineteen people were trapped in their Mid Sussex homes when a fire broke out in a block of flats.

Residents called the fire brigade at 12.30am on Sunday when they realised a blaze had started in their building in Crawley.

When firefighters arrived at Caburn Court, in Caburn Heights, the first-floor lobby of the communal stairwell had caught fire, trapping the people above.

One man jumped to safety from the window of his first-floor flat while others on the second and third floors had to wait for the blaze to be put out.

Leading Firefighter Darren Levett, of Crawley fire station, said three fire engines were sent to the fire, which took about 20 minutes to extinguish.

One boy, whose bedroom was near the blaze, was checked by paramedics for the effects of smoke but no one was hurt.

Mr Levett said: "Smoke had penetrated each floor but most of the residents listened to fire advice and blocked the bottom of their doors to stop smoke getting through."

The fire is being treated as suspicious and is being investigated by the police.

A spokesman for Crawley Borough Council said the building had suffered smoke damage.

Checks on the electrics in the building were being carried out this morning to ensure the building was safe for Christmas.