A MAN who set fire to his old sofa had to be rescued by firefighters as the flames spread to his garden.

Bungling resident Jamie Dean – believed to be in his 20s – torched a three-piece suite in the garden of his home in Western Road, in Fareham, at 11pm last night.

But fire crews said the blaze flared out of control and risked spreading to a nearby fence – endangering his house.

Mr Dean said the fire was "always under control".

He told the Daily Echo: "My fence and even the little tree were scorched as you can see, I didn't call the fire brigade and the fire was always under control."

Crews from Fareham fire station arrived and used a hose reel to put out the flames within minutes.

Watch manager Dave Higgins said the blaze caused little damage but warned: “He told us he had wanted to get rid of it and did not have the money to dispose of it. But we urge people not to burn disused furniture and take it to the tip or make alternative arrangements.”