A MAN had to be rescued from the first floor window of his home on Saturday after a fire broke out.

The blaze at a house in Clifton Street had started in an electrical intake cupboard on the ground floor and quickly spread to the first and second floors.

The man tried to escape when he heard the fire alarm, but found his way barred by dense smoke.

He was rescued by firefighters, who used a ladder to bring him to ground safely.

Two other people fled from the ground floor of the house, which is divided into bedsits.

Crews from Swindon, Westlea, Stratton and Cricklade fire stations used eight sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which was reported at 11.48am.

In addition to fire crews, the British Red Cross were in attendance, to help look after the victims of the fire.