A 16-year-old girl was hurt leaping from an upstairs window to escape a blaze thought to have been started deliberately.

Ayesha Rees-Avery sustained heavy bruising, and back and foot injuries, jumping 20 feet from her bedroom into the back garden.

Police and fire officers confirmed the cause of the fire, which broke out yesterday on the ground floor of her father's house, was suspicious. Ayesha was alone and asleep at the time.

Despite her injuries Ayesha raised the alarm and saved her home from burning down, although the interior was badly damaged.

She was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and released yesterday afternoon.

Last night she described how she woke up choking on thick, black smoke.

She said: "I was choking really badly and then the smoke alarms began going off. At first I threw my head out of the window to breathe but the smoke was so thick I still couldn't.

"The only option was to jump out. I then got around the front of the house and my neighbour called the fire brigade."

Paramedics managed to save the family dog, five year-old Taz, by restarting his heart after he collapsed.

The dog was then given oxygen while lying by the side of the road before being taken to a vet.

The paramedic who saved the dog's life later said the animal was dazed but in a stable condition.

A pet cat and a kitten died in the blaze. Both had gone missing during the fire and could not be found. Firefighters later confirmed they had been caught in the fire.

Two fire crews from Brighton and one from Roedean were able to bring the fire in Moulsecoomb Way, near the junction with Birdham Road, Brighton, under control just after 11.30am but much of the semi-detached council house was damaged.

The charred insides, both upstairs and downstairs, were clearly visible.

Police officers immediately sealed off the house and forensic and CID officers began their investigations.

Miss Rees-Avery's father, Dave, arrived back at the house with his partner soon after the alarm was raised to find the chaotic scenes which brought most of the neighbourhood on to the streets.

Many had helped Miss Rees-Avery before paramedics arrived.

Mr Rees-Avery said he had been shaken by the ordeal. He said: "I'm glad Ayesha got out and nobody was hurt but it is not looking good.

"I raced back through the traffic when I heard what was happening and I was just glad my girl got out okay.

"When you hear your house is on fire you suspect the worst."

The family had only moved into the house about three weeks ago.

Eyewitnesses described how Miss Rees-Avery ran out around the house screaming for help and telling people to call the fire brigade just after 11am.

One neighbour said: "She came hurtling out screaming "my house is on fire, do something".

I called the fire brigade and she just seemd to slump on the pavement."

Mr Rees-Avery's two sons were not in the house at the time and arrived back soon after the alarm was raised.

Brighton Station Commander Tony Gurr said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious and both the fire and rescue service and the police are conducting investigations.

"There has been fairly substantial damage to the house.

"The girl was fairly lucky to get out alive.

"We are always pushing everyone to get fire alarms installed because in many instances such as this they do save lives."