Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued a man after a blaze broke out in a terraced house in Margate shortly after midnight last night.

They arrived at the scene of the fire in Westbrook Road within four minutes of the 999 call and found the first floor of the three-storey home well alight.

Crew members wearing oxygen masks went in and searched the property and discovered the occupier who was led to safety.

Other firefighters used two hose jets to put out the flames and then ventilated the house of smoke.

The cause of the blaze is believed to be a cigarette and firefighters are urging the public to be extra vigilant with smoking materials in the home.