A six-year-old girl and her grandmother were rescued after a suspected arson attack at their home early today.

They were asleep in the same bed when garden furniture was set on fire against a wall at the rear of the house in Pankhurst Avenue, Brighton.

Fire crews from Roedean smashed through the front door and found the pair in an upstairs bedroom shortly after 3am.

The grandmother, in her 50s, had apparently taken sleeping pills and could not be woken. She had to be carried downstairs to safety.

Both victims were taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, and treated for smoke inhalation.

Minor damage was caused by the flames and the building was smoke-logged.

Fire brigade and police investigators were at the scene today.