Man saved from smoke-filled home

A man and his elderly neighbour have been taken to hospital after a blaze at a property in North Somerset.

Fire crews were called to Teignmouth Road in Clevedon early on Sunday morning after reports of a man shouting for help from an upstairs window.

An Avon and Fire Rescue Service spokeswoman said the man was led to safety by firefighters down a ladder.

"Smoke spread through a void in the roof to three adjoining properties which had to be evacuated," she said.

The cause of the blaze is believed to be food left on a cooker in the kitchen catching alight.

"When crews arrived they found the building heavily smoke-logged. Four firefighters went in wearing breathing apparatus and helped the man - thought to be in his 40s - escape down a ladder.

"Two other firefighters tackled a small fire in the kitchen.

"A loft access was left open and smoke spread to neighbouring properties. A woman in her 80s was taken to hospital as a precaution," the fire brigade spokeswoman added.