Paul Livingstone, 22, of Carpenter Drive, broke down a gate and lead Kaye Bloor to safety after seeing flames on the side of the house as he came down the road with a group of friends.

The dog, Sandy, survived, but other pets died in the blaze.

He said: "The fire was out the front and starting to spread up the house. All the smoke was pouring in. I just went in, I didn't think of nothing. I just wanted to get her and the dog out because I saw how high the flames were by the front door."

Arsonists lit household rubbish, including a mattress, piled against the side of 16, Carpenter Drive at around half past eight last Thursday.

Terry and Kaye Bloor, both in their 70s, did not have a smoke alarm fitted and were unaware of the danger until Paul banged on the front door.

Mr Bloor, who has MS and cannot easily walk unassisted, came to the door and was lead to safety while Mrs Bloor stayed inside, unable to leave her dog Sandy and a small menagerie including rabbits, fish, budgies and hamsters.

Paul said: "It was up in flames as high as you like. I told him to stay near the gate and I went round the back and kicked their gate in.

"I kicked it in and got into the house where there was smoke and everything. She was downstairs with the dog. I got hold of them and lead them out to the front to her husband. She was scared for the dog so she needed leading."

"The neighbours were very helpful - they calmed the old man down, giving him a cup of tea.

Fire crews used breathing apparatus on the rabbits, but one died of smoke inhalation along with two budgerigars and a hamster.

Watch manager Chris Mepham said: "We were confronted with quite a serious fire on arrival. It had caused the bathroom window to break inwards. The front door had melted away so smoke was billowing into the hallway and fire had spread inside the building."

He praised neighbour Paul's bravery, saying: "He did well to lead them out before the situation deteriorated. It had the potential to be very serious.

"The occupants were completely unaware even when the bathroom window gave. They would have had so much more of an early warning if they had had a smoke alarm.

A police spokesman said: "A number of the family pets were lost in the blaze. It is believed the fire was started deliberately and officers are treating the enquiry as arson with intent to endanger life."

For information on fire prevention, including free visits from Hastings fire crews to install smoke alarms, contact the community fire safety team on 0800 177 7069.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact DC Rachel Ling on 0845 6070999 quoting serial 1808 29/10 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Do you know anyone who was involved in the fire? Please leave your comments below.