A pensioner was saved by firefighters from his blazing flat.

Crew members charged into his flat in Ashford without wearing breathing apparatus and carried him to safety.

The victim, in his 60s, was taken to hospital suffering severe burns.

Neighbouring flats from the sheltered accommodation complex were also evacuated and 10 other pensioners had to flee their homes.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Fire crews carried out what is called a snatch rescue, in which they went straight in to pick the man up.

"They were not wearing breathing apparatus but colleagues who fought the blaze were."

Firefighters were called to a sheltered accommodation complex at Eastern Avenue just before 7.20pm on Monday night.

Crews has rescued man in the lounge area of his flat and colleagues, wearing breathing apparatus and using hosereel jets, stopped the fire spreading further.

Four fire engines, from Ashford, Aldington and Charing, were called to the incident.

The blaze is now believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.