A MAN was saved from his home by fire-fighters after a blaze broke out in his living room tonight.

Neighbours desperately tried to get into the detached house in Hartington Way, Darlington, to reach the man after being alerted by his smoke alarm.

After spotting three foot high flames in the living room they banged on the windows and tried the doors but could not alert the man, believed to be in his late forties.

Fire-fighters arrived and broke down the door before walking the man, who had moved into the street four years ago and lives on his own, to safety.

Postal worker Stuart Allan, who lives opposite, had just arrived home from work when another neighbour alerted him shortly after 8pm.

Mr Allan, 52, said: "We called the emergency services and then we tried the doors. The front door and back door were both locked but we knew he was in there so we were banging on the window.

"The smoke was getting really thick by that point and we could hardly see in.

"Then the fire-fighters arrived and they kicked the door down. They got to him and he was able to walk out."

The man was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital by ambulance, but was believed to only be suffering from smoke inhalation.

The blaze was quickly brought under control by fire-fighters.

Three tenders attended the blaze, two from Darlington Fire Station and one from Newton Aycliffe.