The life of a protester fighting to stop Tesco opening a new store on a community garden site was saved by one of the supermarket giant's own staff.

The victim was asleep and just minutes from death as smoke filled a building he and other campaigners had occupied at the garden in Lewes Road, Brighton.

The alarm was only raised after Tesco stock controller Paul Arnold saw plumes of smoke as he walked to work at 5.16am, Friday.

Firefighters were unable to get in because campaigners had barricaded the main door of the building.

One of the protesters who was asleep in the building managed to crawl out through another exit as fire fighters climbed a ladder and smashed their way through a first floor window.

Other campaigners were still asleep in the community garden and were unaware of the danger the victim, who has not been named, was in.

Father-of-two Mr Arnold said: “There was black smoke coming out of the top of the building and it was immediately clear something was wrong so I called the fire brigade.

“It was not until I saw a report about the fire on The Argus website that I realised someone was inside the building.”

The 31-year-old, who works at Tesco Express in Queen's Road, Brighton, added: “The irony of a Tesco employee saving the life of a protester who is trying to keep Tesco out was not lost on me.”

Dave Statham, watch manager at Preston Circus fire station, said they had been called to the site earlier on Thursday night after smoke was seen.

But found only protesters, who have dug in to prevent a development that could include a Tesco store, enjoying a barbecue.

It’s thought Friday morning’s blaze had been sparked by a naked flame.

Mr Statham said: "If we had not received the call and arrived when we did he could have died.

“Most people do not realise that in a fire it is smoke that kills and people can die in a matter of minutes.”