A STUDENT was forced to flee his flat naked after fire broke out while he was taking shower.

John Stott, 26, who lives in Claypath, Durham City, grabbed his clothes and mobile phone after seeing flames and smoke in the kitchen.

He was met at the door by a startled local councillor who was delivering leaflets and helped raise the alarm, shortly after 10.30am on Saturday.

Mr Stott, who is originally from St Helens, Merseyside, and is studying astrophysics, said: "I had got in the shower and it stopped, so I thought I would have a bath instead but then I smelt smoke.

"I went into the kitchen and it was on fire so I thought I had better get out.

"I didn't have the chance to dry - I just grabbed my jumper and trousers and mobile phone."

Councillor David Freeman, who represents the St Nicholas ward and served on both Durham City Council and Durham County Council, was delivering leaflets when Mr Stott escaped.

He said: "I opened the door to the flats and there was a man with no clothes on saying 'I am on fire'.

"I didn't quite know what he meant. Then I realised he was talking about the flat. You could not see the fire from the door, but I could certainly smell smoke."

Coun Freeman helped evacuate the block of flats while Mr Stott got dressed.

He added: "There were only a couple of people and I sent for the fire brigade straight away."

Coun Freeman praised the speedy response of firefighters.

He said: "They were very efficient, and put on their protective clothing and breathing equipment and were straight in there.

"They did the job they have been trained to do very well.

"I think the flat is going to be a bit of a mess. It is going to need quite a bit of tidying up."

The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical fault in the fuse box.

Crew manager Dean Kennedy, from the fire service, said: "The fire was isolated to the kitchen area, but there was smoke damage throughout the property and the flat above.

"No one was injured."