AN ELDERLY woman trapped inside her blazing flat is recovering in hospital.

The fire broke out at the pensioner's ground floor home, in council-run sheltered accommodation at Templars Court, Littlebrook Manor Way, Dartford, on Monday, at 9.40pm.

A 999 call was made reporting someone trapped inside the three-storey block of flats.

Two crews from Dartford, one from Thames-side and one from Horton Kirby, arrived to find the woman, believed to be in her 70s, trapped inside the burning building which was heavily smoke logged.

She was rescued and taken to Darent Valley Hospital by ambulance after inhaling smoke.

A hospital spokesman said the woman was making a good recovery.

Firefighters from Rainham and Swanscombe also helped tackle the fire which took half an hour to put out.

The building was evacuated and six residents spent the night with their families or in beds at Darent Valley Hospital found for them by rapid response nurses.

The home is managed by Dartford Borough Council.

A council spokesman said as soon as they were aware of the fire they put into action an emergency plan to arrange alternative accommodation for the residents unable to return to their properties.

The spokesman added: "Unfortunately, due to the scale of the blaze, those properties adjacent to the flat have been damaged by the fire.

"We are working with the six residents affected and their families to find temporary accommodation and our maintenance team is now working to bring the properties damaged back in use."

Most firefighters left the scene at around 11.30pm but two appliances remained at the scene to make it safe until 1.25am on Tuesday.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been an accident.