Major fire in the Old Town area of Hastings

Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses after a major fire in Hastings last night. A 66-year old woman living in Marine Parade jumped from a second floor window and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with critical injuries to her legs and body.

Several residents from adjacent properties, including a building in George Street, were safely evacuated and given assistance by the local authority. The fire is currently being treated as unexplained.

Detective Sergeant Suzy Joseph said: 'We would like to speak to any witnesses, and in particular to three people, believed to be men, who held out a bedsheet or duvet to the woman had thrown down, to try to break her fall. They left the scene without giving us their details.'

A woman in her 60s has been taken to hospital with spinal injuries after she jumped from a burning building in Hastings. More than 40 fire fighters were called to tackle the blaze at Marine Parade which broke out just after midnight.

A number of people have been left homeless after the fire spread in a row of terraced houses. Hastings Borough Commander Nigel Cusack, from East Sussex Fire and Rescue, said: 'It is obviously a distressing time for those whose homes and properties have been affected by this fire.

'Firefighters worked incredibly hard to limit the damage it caused and stop it spreading even further through neighbouring buildings. Building experts are now making the area safe so that a fire investigation can begin.'

More photos are emerging from a major fire in Hastings last night. This photo was taken by Inspector Lee Lyons of Sussex Police. The blaze broke out just after midnight in Marine Parade. One person has been taken to hospital. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Here are some of the first photos taken from a major fire in Hastings last night. They were taken by Nigel Hammond from the South East Coast Ambulance Service. Around 40 fire fighters tackled the blaze in Marine Parade. One person has been taken to hospital. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

One person has been taken to hospital after a major fire in the Old Town area of Hastings last night. At it height, 40 fire fighters tackled the blaze at property on Marine Parade which broke out just after midnight. The fire badly damaged the roof, the first and second floors of the building.

The building - which is in a row of seven terraced properties including homes and shops - is unsafe and a structural survey is being arranged. Crews remain at the scene. Traffic disruption is expected.

There was a major fire last night in the Old Town area of Hastings in East Sussex. The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but many residents were evacuated as fire crews fought the blaze. More details to follow.