A man had a lucky escape last night when fire broke out in his top-floor flat in Dover.

Fire crews from Dover and Whitfield were called to the three-storey building in Harold Street just after 11pm when smoke was seen coming from the flat.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, had tried to escape from the building, but apparently fell down the first flight of stairs where he was found unconscious.

Fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze as Firefighter Mark Wadhams carried the man down the stairs and out of the building to safety.

He was given oxygen and regained consciousness at the scene. He was taken to hospital for a check up and to be treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

The lounge of the flat was completely destroyed by the fire and the rest of the flat was damaged. Fire crews prevented the blaze from spreading to other flats and to the roof.

Residents were evacuated from the other flats, and the cause of the fire is being investigated.