A couple were saved but their pet dog was killed in a fire that gutted their home.

Leonard and Maria Milne, both in their 50s, were rescued in the early hours of yesterday.

They escaped despite breathing in a lot of smoke but one of their dogs was lost to the flames, as was their home.

Their other dog was rescued by fire crews.

Firefighters believe the blaze was sparked by a heater in the house at Rose Farm, Three Cups Corner, Heathfield.

The couple were taken to Conquest Hospital, St Leonard's, where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

They were kept at the hospital for checks all day.

Their condition was described as stable and not life-threatening.

Firefighters spent two-and-a-half hours, until 2.30am, putting out the blaze. Paramedics also arrived at the scene after it was reported the couple had been inside the building.

Grant Gill, of Able Glaze UK, was at the scene yesterday to board up the house, which is worth about £500,000.

He said: "The ceiling has completely collapsed and the roof has fallen in. The stairs have also been completely destroyed and fallen down.

"You can still see everything as it was in the living room. There is a leather suite and a half-empty mug of coffee still sitting on the table.

"We also found some really old-looking music books and a guitar, which unfortunately were all ruined.

"There is nothing left for them here at all. We have taken a couple of hours to board up the house and make it safe as there may be falling rubble."

A spokesman from Sussex Police confirmed that two people had been taken to hospital, one dog had died and another had been rescued.

He said: "It is believed a heater that had been left on started the fire, which destroyed the ground floor, the first floor and the roof."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it received a call at 12.03am and needed three jets and an aerial ladder to put out the fire.

The couple, who were too upset to speak to The Argus yesterday, were still at Conquest Hospital last night where they are making their recovery.

Next-door neighbour Lynsey Adams, 48, said: "I wasn't aware of anything during the night at all and I feel really bad that I didn't know and couldn't do anything.

"I woke up and looked out of the window and saw the house had been completely gutted - that was at about 6.45am. There was a fire engine outside but the fire had already been put out.

"I just thought I couldn't believe it. It had completely gone.

"The postman arrived and gave me the couple's mail. I don't really know them that well. He said he didn't know what to do because there was no mail box."