Two rescued from flat fire

The police said the fire started in suspicious circumstances

Two men have escaped injury after being rescued from a fire in County Antrim.

The men, believed to be members of the Chinese community, were trapped in a first floor flat at Galgorm Road in Ballymena at about 0220 BST on Thursday.

Police officers forced the front door and tried to put out the blaze using an extinguisher.

Other officers brought a ladder from the nearby station and rescued the men.

The men were rescued from an upstairs window

The police have said they are treating the fire as suspicious.

It is understood it was started in an empty flat downstairs.

A police spokesman praised the swift action of the officers and said: "This was a very serious fire which could have resulted in the death or injury of these two men."

Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, Stephen Todd, said the men were lucky to be alive and he also praised the efforts of local police.