Crawley Fire - Block of Flats Evacuated

Eight people, including two children, have been rescued by firefighters during a blaze at a three-storey block of flats in West Sussex.

The fire broke out in the communal stairwell of the building in Broadfield Place, Crawley, just after 07:00 GMT. Residents trapped in their flats by thick smoke were advised by fire controllers to close their doors and use towels or sheets to block any gaps.

Five were rescued from first floor windows and three were led to safety. One man in his 20s was treated at the scene by paramedics for mild effects of smoke inhalation, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.