A MAN had to be rescued by firefighters when he became stranded on a balcony in his block of flats in Southampton.

The man – believed to be in his late 20s - became stuck two storeys up in the block Lydgate Road, Hightown, at 8.45pm last night.

It is believed he may have gone out there to have a cigarette and became locked out.

Crews from Hightown fire station arrived and used a ladder to help him down and take him to safety.

The man was unharmed and station crew manager Nev Lewenden said: “He was very embarrassed as we used a ladder to get him down – much to the amusement of his partner.

“We often get called to people who have been locked out but not often those stuck on balconies.

"It’s safer for us to help them rather than them getting hurt trying to climb down.”