Neighbours of a mother and daughter found with severe head injuries heard the nine-year-old's screams.

Sussex Police were called to an address in Cavalry Crescent, Eastbourne, at about 10pm on Sunday where they found the 41-year-old and her daughter bleeding profusely.

Police have confirmed both were beaten following an argument at the house.

A spokesman said the girl had been transferred to King's College Hospital in London while her mother had been moved to Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath. Both remain in a serious condition.

The Argus has been been asked to withhold their identities while police officers ensure family members have been informed of the attack.

The police spokesman said a 49-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, who is not thought to be the girl's father, remained in custody last night.

A neighbour said: "We heard screams coming from the house.

"The little girl can be quite loud sometimes so we thought it could just be her playing but later on there were crowds of people outside including police and ambulance staff."

The neighbour's daughter, who was friends with the younger victim, said: "She was quite sociable and friendly but her mother stayed inside most of the time."

Six police cars and three ambulances attended the scene after receiving an emergency call from a man. Police refused to comment last night on where the call had been made from.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said: "On arrival, crews discovered two patients, an adult female and nine-year-old girl, both in an extremely serious condition with serious head injuries. After being stabilised at the scene, both were taken by ambulance to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

"Both have subsequently been transferred by ambulance to specialist hospitals for further treatment."

Another neighbour said: "It was quite frightening with all the commotion just as we were getting ready to go to bed.

"I thought a bomb had gone off after everything that happened last week."

News of the incident sent shockwaves through the community.

Mark Trott, the girl's headteacher at Ocklynge Junior School in Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, said: "We have all been shaken by the news and our thoughts go out to the family.

"Many of the pupils know through talk what has happened but we have not made an announcement.

"We will wait to see what progress is made."

Another neighbour said: "They hadn't been there long but they seemed like a nice family.

"I never really saw him but the little girl would ride past on her bike, wave and say hello.

"She would always ask if she could stroke the dog."