A woman was trapped in her high-rise flat early today as a fire broke out inside.

She was forced to retreat to her balcony on the ninth floor of Friston House, Warrior Square, St Leonards.

A member of the public heard her cries for help at around 1am before 20 firefighters from Hastings and Bexhill arrived.

Rescuers led her to safety and she was taken to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Residents in floors below were told to stay in their flats.

A brigade spokeswoman said the cause of the blaze was believed to have been an oil burner which toppled over, setting light to carpet and newspapers..

As firefighters led the woman to safety it emerged a man tried to escape the block using a lift.

But the electrics failed and he too became trapped.

A brigade spokeswoman said: "It is vitally important that when there is a fire for people not to use lifts.

"Luckily we managed to free the person in this case but the consequences could have been far worse."