Thirty Crawley residents had to leave their flats when a blaze broke out on the ground floor.

Firefighters spent more than an hour bringing the fire under control in the three-storey building.

Neighbours raised the alarm at 8.30pm on Saturday after seeing smoke belching from the flats.

Most of the residents managed to retreat outside except a mother and her young son, who were finally alerted when a neighbour rushed back in.

All three were seen by paramedics at the scene in Lambeth Close, Broadfield, and taken to Crawley to be treated for the effects of smoke.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The fire was well-developed when we arrived but thanks to the quick response of the residents and ambulance crew everyone managed to get out."

He said the cause of the fire was under investigation.