House fire - eight taken to hospital

Two fire crews from Lancing and one from Shoreham attended the blaze in Brook Way, Lancing, at around 7.45am.

Smoke was coming from a first floor window and it was reported that people were still inside. When fire crews arrived all the occupants were outside. Several of them had blackened faces and eight people were taken to hospital by ambulance.

The fire, in a first floor bedroom, was put out by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.There was extensive smoke damage throughout.

An investigation is continuing to find out how the fire started but children playing with matches has not been ruled out.