TERRIFIED residents have described their horror after waking up inside a burning building where three adults had to be rescued.

Firefighters were forced to use breathing apparatus after a ferocious blaze broke out inside a privately-owned block of flats in Darlington on Monday morning.

The fire, which consumed flat eight in the Oxford Street Mews property, off Northgate, began at around 6am on Monday and four fire engines were stationed at the scene for around two hours while the blaze was beaten back.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’s (CDDFRS) red watch were praised for their bravery in saving the three people from the building by using ladders and ventilation tactics.

Oxford Street Mews resident, Grant Thompson, 46, was woken up by the sounds of fire alarms in the building after his neighbour’s flat was engulfed in flames.

Mr Thompson, who has lived in the property for more than a year, said: “I was fast asleep when I woke up because I could hear the alarm, but I thought nothing of it.

“Then I realised it was a fire and I ran upstairs. But when I opened the door, it let the air in which made the fire worse.

“I was trying to get help and get some water to put the fire out but it was too hot. It was too hot to go near it.

“I went back to get my girlfriend and the dog, but we could have died – it was terrifying.

“Thankfully, we’re all okay now and we managed to get out, but another lad who lives here smashed a skylight window in the corridor because he thought it was our flat on fire.

“He was trying to help us out because we were frightened to death. We felt helpless.”

The cause of the fire is yet to be established, however, a joint investigation has been launched between Durham Police and CDDFRS.

Two Durham Police Community Support Officers were stationed outside the building last night and confirmed their presence was for scene preservation with residents unable to re-enter their flats until the property was secured.

A CDDFRS spokeswoman said: “We got the call at 6.04am and it was a report of a flat on fire and that three people were trapped inside the flat.

“We sent four appliances in total, two from Darlington and two from Newton Aycliffe.

“They used full breathing apparatus, two hose reels, one positive pressure ventilation appliance and a safety ladder.

“They got the three adults out of the flat safely and there are no reported injuries.

“A joint fire and police investigation is taking place.”

A Durham Police spokeswoman was unable to comment further on the incident, but confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.