Fire crews wearing breathing masks freed a man from a blaze in a top floor city flat after smashing his front door down.

The victim, in his 40s, was trapped in the apartment in Hudson Road, Canterbury, when neighbours raised the alarm.

He was taken to Kent and Canterbury Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene at around 8.50pm yesterday .

Fire crews were forced to smash a hole in the front door in order to allow a council workman to secure entry.

The workman, who asked not to be named, said: “I got called to let them in the building. The firemen then punched a hole in the door and we were able to get in. It was a bit of a mess in there.”

According to Kent Fire and Rescue Service, crews arrived within three minutes of being called and were quickly able to extinguish the blaze using a hose reel.

As the victim was rescued and taken to hospital for treatment, firefighters used a special fan to ventilate the smoke and fumes.

The affected flat is accessed by a communal hallway which serves the four immediate neighbouring properties.

No one was available for comment when called.