Two dogs and three people had to be rescued by emergency crews after they became trapped in a house fire.

During the early hours of this morning, the Met Police and London Fire Brigade (LFB) were sent to Hilda Vale Road in Orpington following reports of a blaze.

A spokesman for the LFB said: “Part of the ground floor of a semi-detached house was damaged by fire.

“Firefighters rescued two women, a man, and two dogs, from a first-floor window via a ladder.

“They were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

“The brigade’s 999 control officers gave vital fire survival guidance to those inside the building on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.”

Three engines and 15 firefighters from Orpington and Bromley stations attended.

The brigade was called at 3.40am and had the situation under control by 4.42am.

Witnesses said that six police cars, three ambulances and an incident officer from the London Ambulance Service were also at the scene.

One resident said that "police attempted to smash into the property to rescue the occupants and the dogs before the fire services arrived”.

This morning it has been reported that the area remains cordoned off while an investigation continues.

The LFB confirmed that the cause of the fire is under investigation by the brigade and the Met Police.