Three rescued from flats fire

Police smashed windows in the flats to get in

Police officers have rescued two people who were asleep in a burning block of flats in Strabane, County Tyrone.

Flames swept through the flats at Bowling Green just before 0500 BST on Sunday.

A third person who was overcome by smoke was pulled to safety by firefighters.

He was brought out unconscious and taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

His condition is described as comfortable and stable.

The officers had to waken them - they were in very great danger

RUC Sergeant Neil Morrow

The man and woman, who were in a separate flat, were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

A neighbour alerted police at a nearby RUC station.

Two constables then ran the short distance to the flats.

Sergeant Neil Morrow said it was the actions of his officers which saved the people's lives.

"The intensity of the fire prevented them from entering," he said.

"They then smashed windows on the ground floor flats and as a result of that were able to extract two people.

"The officers had to waken them. They were in very great danger," he said.

The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical fault.