Dinner came to an abrupt end for a Mid Sussex family when fire broke out in their home.

The blaze cut off the electricity supply at the house in Colgate, near Horsham, plunging it into darkness.

The family members, who had just sat down to dinner, managed to escape as smoke and flames spread across the first floor.

Seven of them fled the house, including grandparents, parents and children.

The next-door neighbours were also evacuated as firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze.

The fire severely damaged a first-floor bedroom. The rest of the building was smoke-damaged.

Horsham fire brigade Sub Officer Gary Towson said: "The building was well alight when we got there but the family had managed to get out safely.

"The family had a very lucky escape but they could have been alerted even earlier if they'd had a functioning smoke alarm.

"There was one in the building but its battery had run out and not been replaced."

Fire crews were at the scene last night for more than three hours.

It is thought an electrical fault may have started the fire in the first-floor bedroom.

The house's occupants are today staying with relatives and friends in the area while repair work is carried out.