A man has been treated for smoke inhalation after being rescued from the ninth floor of a block of flats in Ramsgate.

He was pulled from the blaze, in Trove Court, in Newcastle Hill, after neighbours raised the alarm at about 9pm last night.

It is believed a pan left on the heat in the kitchen caused the fire.

Station manager David Escudier said: "This was a remarkably swift operation that ended successfully with the rescue of this gentleman. This might have had a very different outcome had it not been for the quick thinking and prompt action of the crews involved.

"It looks as if the fire was caused by a pan left unattended. More than half of the accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen. This serves as a reminder to everyone never to leave cooking unattended."

The man was treated by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation.