FIVE people were taken to hospital after a fire in a ground floor flat in the early hours of today, May 1.

Two men were rescued and taken to York Hospital with serious injuries after neighbours raised the alarm.

Three other residents, including an 11-year-old boy and his mum, also received treatment for smoke inhalation.

And a greyhound called Nelly was also rescued from the flat and taken in by neighbours.

Firefighters were called to the scene in Lady Mill Garth, in the Clifton area of York, at 2.37am.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "An investigation is on-going and the cause of the blaze is unknown at this time."

Neighbour Brian Rutter, 38, was leaving for work when he spotted smoke coming from the flat.

“When I looked at the flat it was up in smoke,” he said.

Amanda Rackstaw, 50, lives next door to the flat. "As I was getting ready for bed I heard the commotion and saw the lights, so I went out and checked which is when the police called me out,” she said.

"When I looked over to the flat I could see the flames coming out.”

She added: "The men have lived here ages but kept themselves to themselves."