A doctor was arrested after a suspected arson attack at a Sussex hospital early today.

Twenty-five members of staff and their families were evacuated when fire tore through a top-floor flat at a three-storey accommodation block at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The doctor's wife and her young child escaped the blaze and were treated in the accident and emergency unit after breathing in smoke.

The flat was gutted and adjoining homes were damaged by smoke. The woman and child were today being cared for by relatives.

Police inquiries were continuing but it is understood the doctor's Ford Escort crashed and was set on fire near the town's rail station in Terminus Road about an hour before the 1.30am hospital blaze.

The doctor, thought to be in his thirties, is believed to be a trainee GP, currently working as a senior house officer in the psychiatric department. He was helping police with their inquiries today.

About 12 firefighters tackled the fire at the Gillies House accommodation block, which is separate from the main hospital buildings in King's Drive.

Alarms were triggered and two porters, Joseph Brennan and Dean Carling, went into the building to make sure tenants escaped safely.

Hospital chief executive Alan Randall said: "This was a serious fire and there could have so easily been fatalities.

"But I am delighted our fire precautions, alarms and procedures worked well and I am very proud of the actions of our two porters."

Mr Brennan said: "Someone was shouting, 'It's a real fire', so we went inside to make sure the building was empty. There was a woman yelling that she thought her husband was still inside. It was one of the doctors' wives."

Mr Brennan and Mr Carling tried to look for the doctor but were forced back my thick smoke.

The pair were treated in the casualty department for the effects of smoke.