Guests had to be moved at a five-star Eastbourne hotel when red-hot oven cloths burst into flames after coming out of a washing machine.

Sixty guests were moved to the Chatsworth Room at the seafront Grand Hotel as fire crews spent an hour in the laundry area.

A manager raised the alarm after spotting smoke.

Six firefighters from Eastbourne raced to the hotel just after 6pm yesterday.

Guests were able to return 20 minutes later as the fire had only caused slight smoke damage to the laundry area.