An arsonist has been jailed after putting lives at risk when he set fire to his own flat.

Mark Elliott set fire to his bedroom curtains in his flat in Rendezvous Street in Folkestone on July 1.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court and has now been sentenced to three years in prison.

Two young women became trapped in their top floor flat when smoke enveloped corridors within the building.

Fire crews were called out shortly before 7.25pm after neighbours raised the alarm having seen the smoke spreading from the first floor to the rest of the building.

Elliott was pulled to safety by other residents but firefighters entered the building and rescued the two teenagers from their fourth floor flat.

He admitted the charge of arson with intent to endanger life and was sentenced on Friday, September 25.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Mick Scott-Smith, crew manager at Folkestone Fire Station, said at the time of the incident: "They were trapped there because of the smoke, no other reason.

“We don’t know how long they were there for but we got them out in good time."

Three fire engines were sent to the scene and some residents were taken to hospital after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.