A POLICE officer puts up a poster of the man thought to be responsible for a vicious arson attack which left an innocent couple fighting for their lives.

Police issued an e-fit of the suspect last night and urged anyone recognising him to call them immediately.

The Argus and Sussex Police are offering £2,000 in rewards to catch the offender and The Argus published dozens of reward posters to be distributed throughout the area.

Charlie Fearn, 66, and his wife Chris, 59, were asleep in bed when the attacker poured petrol over their front door and ignited it.

Seconds later, the couple, who have three sons, had to leap from a first-floor window to save themselves.

Both suffered severe burns and Mr Fearn sustained spinal fractures. They are stable and heavily sedated in intensive care.

Police believe the arsonist was trying to destroy a drug dealer's home and got the wrong address. The attack happened in Whitebeam Road, Worthing, in the early hours of Monday.

Police said the man in the e-fit was seen at the entrance of the house at the time of the attack and was spotted running away immediately after.

He is white, 23 to 32, about 5ft 5in, stocky, bald and has a rounded clean-shaven face with thin eyebrows and thin lips. He was wearing a black Puffa-type jacket zipped to the collar and black trousers.

Detective Inspector Rob Walker, heading the inquiry, said: "We have received information following extensive media appeals but we need more. We are distributing posters showing an e-fit of the man we are extremely keen to identify.

"This has been created with the help of a witness who saw a man at the entrance of the house at the time of the explosion.

"I urge anyone who recognises him or has any information to contact us."

The £2,000 reward, £1,000 each from The Argus and Sussex Police, is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Anyone who recognises this man or has information about him should call detectives on 0845 6070999.