Cottages saved from blaze

Searing heat from the inferno prevented firemen getting inside the cottage, owned by Chichester Diocesan Housing Association, and none of its male tenant's possessions were salvaged.

The tenant had managed to get out but was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of the heat, and smoke inhalation.

Station Officer Ken Sheppard, leading two Petworth fire crews, said the cottage in the St Richard's terrace was well alight.

"By the time we got there, the staircase had already burned right through. A couple of our chaps tried to get in but the heat was so intense we had to call them out.

"It was a case of trying to stop the fire spreading to the next-door cottages and fortunately we were able to do that. We also managed to remove a Calor gas cylinder and put it into a dam of cold water to cool it down.

"It was a severe fire and the place is gutted," he added.

The Petworth crews were among 30 firefighters at the scene, including a specialist breathing apparatus unit. They were called from Storrington, Midhurst, Haywards Heath, Chichester, Bognor Regis and Billingshurst.