An off-duty firefighter rescued an elderly man after a fire broke out in a bungalow in Rainham this morning.

The firefighter and a member of the public helped the man out of the bungalow in Chalfont Drive before fire crews arrived.

Two fire engines were called to the scene at 6.25am and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire.

The elderly man was treated by paramedics for the effects of breathing in smoke and taken to hospital for precautionary checks.