A man had a lucky escape after vandals set fire to his house.

The man was woken by the sound of shattering glass and ran downstairs to find his living room had been set alight at just after midnight.

He fled his terraced house in Ashford Road, Eastbourne, and made a 999 call.

Sub Officer Steve Whittlesey, from Eastbourne fire station said two crews were sent to the house and remained on the scene for more almost three hours until police scenes of crime officers arrived.

The living-room was badly damaged with smoke-blackened walls, a burnt carpet and melted television.

The shattered front window of the house remained unboarded this morning while police and the fire investigation teams began their investigations.

Neighbours said today he was lucky to have woken up in time.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I didn't hear a thing. The first we heard about it was when he came knocking on our door. You really don't expect that sort of thing to happen but he was a very lucky man. "

Police stood watch outside the house.

The incident was being treated as arson.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Eastbourne police on 0845 6070999.