Residents were at the centre of a dramatic rescue from a fire in a block of flats in Southampton today.

Fire crews used a ladder to save three people from a balcony from the blaze in the early hours of this morning.

Two people were treated by paramedics and one,a 14-year-old boy, was taken to hospital following the blaze, the cause of which is now under investigation.

Firefighters from Hightown and St Mary's stations were called to the fire in Lydgate Road in Thornhill at about 2.30am.

The blaze had broken out in a first floor kitchen of the block of flats.

The 14-year-old boy was rescued from the flat by firefighters while a teenage girl managed to get herself out before they arrived. 

Three further persons were rescued from a neighbouring flat via  a13.5m ladder from first floor balcony.

Another eight people were led to safety from the building by firefighters.

Two casualties were treated at the scene and one person was taken to Southampton General Hospital, said South Central Ambulance Service.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service confirmed one male had been taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

He said: “In response to the incident last night there were no calls for additional resources, such as the air ambulance team, which would indicate his injuries are not life threatening.

"However this information has not yet been fully confirmed.”

The spokesman added that two ambulances and two hazardous area response team vehicles were sent to the scene following a call at 2.37am.

This morning residents spoke of the incident.

A mother of two, who did not wish to be named, said: "I just heard a lot of banging and shouting.

"I think there was a young boy and girl who had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

"It's a shock but thankfully no one was badly hurt."

Another resident added: "I'm angry that my children were put in danger because of this.

"Thank goodness everyone was alright."

One woman told how residents went on t baconies to escape the smoke.

She said:  "It was quite scary. We heard lots of banging and shouting and could see smoke coming through the doors.

"No one was evacuated but some went out onto their balconies, we were told we could stay inside.

"It was very dramatic lots of police cars and fire engines and paramedics.

"We heard that a boy was taken to hospital and he was unconscious after inhaling lots of smoke but don't think there was any major damage or injuries caused which is a relief."

Another added: "It was very loud there was a lot of noise of banging and shouting which was quite startling to wake up to, by the time we were evacuated onto the balcony there was just a lot of smoke and the fire had been put out."

Firefighters used six sets of breathing apparatus, two jets, two hosereels and a positive pressure ventilation fan during the incident.