AN UNCONSCIOUS elderly man was rescued from his burning flat this morning with 35 per cent burns on his body.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the fire in Miller Road, Banbury, at 2.30am.

It sent two engines from Banbury and Deddington.

On arrival the team were told that someone was still inside the burning building.

Firefighters forced entry to the home wearing breathing apparatus.

After using a hose to extinguish the fire they found the elderly man, unconscious and with major burns to his body.

The crew gave him first aid and oxygen until the arrival of paramedics who took over.

Oxford Mail:

Miller Road, Banbury. Picture: Google Maps

He regained consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for treatment for his burns.

The fire service is now investigating the cause of the fire, but said early research indicated the man had fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette.

In a statement crew manager Daniel Knibbs said: "The fire service was alerted to this incident by a neighbour whose smoke alarm was sounding, and had awoken him.

"This highlights the importance of having working smoking alarms in your property."