A MAN received hospital treatment for suspected broken legs and burns to his body after he jumped from his blazing flat.

The man plunged from the first floor of a three storey end terrace bedsit, on Borough Road, Middlesbrough, to escape a serious fire that was started deliberately on Tuesday night.

Fifteen fire officers were called to the scene and six were sent in to rescue people who were thought to be trapped. They found the property empty, and took around 20 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Station Officer Kevin Harrison said: "It was a very severe fire, which started on the first floor and was primarily confined to one room.

"It is not being treated as suspicious."

Updated:11.45 Wednesday, June 20