A MAN was lucky to escape from a blaze in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The fire, believed to have been started when bedclothes caught light from an unattended candle, severely damaged a ground floor flat and caused smoke damage to the flat above.

The fire brigade was called to the converted terrace house in Gurney Street, Darlington, at 4.40am and, wearing breathing apparatus, used two hoses to put the fire out by 5.20am.

Fortunately, the man had woken up and managed to get an elderly female resident in the flat upstairs out of the building before firefighters arrived.

He suffered burns to his arms and legs, as well as smoke inhalation and was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Station Commander Peter Matthews said that by the time the fire crew got there, it was a fully developed fire and the front window had collapsed.

The bedroom where the fire started was destroyed, and the lobby was damaged. There was smoke damage to the rest of the flat.

The smoke also travelled into the flat above and into an unoccupied house next door.

Station Commander Matthews said: "This man has been very lucky. It is unbelievable that he got out with such minor injuries.

"The fire crews did well to get the fire under control so quickly.

"This fire goes to show the care needed when using candles and making sure they are extinguished properly before going to bed."