A 30-year-old man was rescued from a top floor flat after it was set on fire by an arsonist last night, May 24.

Two other men escaped the burning Victorian house in Clifden Road, Twickenham, before police arrested a suspected arsonist.

Engines from Twickenham, Heston and Richmond were called to put out the fire at about 9pm and were on scene for two and a half hours.

The 30-year-old man, who was rescued after crews took about half an hour to extinguish the fire, was taken to West Middlesex Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said: “Two males removed themselves from the building because they were alerted by their working smoke alarms.”

“One of the six flats is 50 per cent damaged by fire – it is inhabitable.

“It is now a crime scene and in the hands of the police.”

Three fire engines and an LFB command unit attended, as well as the London Ambulance Service and police, who first alerted Twickenham fire station.

There were a total of 25 fire fighters and about 15 police at the scene, which is now under investigation.