Bed-ridden patients were pulled from the searing heat of a blazing nursing home as an overnight fire ripped through the building’s upper floors.

As the emergency services repeatedly ran into the fire to save the 14 guests, including one who had to be transported by stretcher, they could feel the “heat of the water” dripping through from the storey above as firefighters tackled the 2am blaze.

Rescued residents at Abbey Cheam, the Avenue, Cheam, were then taken in by neighbour Kirti Patel, who despite the early hours, housed all 14 people while emergency services continued to battle the flames.

Mrs Patel, 51, said: “We were just being neighbourly.

“I saw a lot of fire engines, ambulance and police. Lots of flashing lights. Then I saw all the smoke coming from the roof.

“It was all very chaotic.

“It was very cold outside. I couldn’t let them just sit there. I think I had about 15 or so. They all came in.”

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Mrs Patel cares for her disabled mother-in-law, Saroj Patel, 89, so said she was used to looking after people.

She said: “When she came out they thought she was part of the home. I had to say ‘No, no, she belongs to us. We had everybody in the kitchen. They were all in there except for one gentleman who was on a stretcher. He was not very well so we put him in my bed.

“We had a full house until about 5.30am. We’ve been up all night.”

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Sutton Council officers then helped place the residents in beds at two other Abbey Total Care homes, Bridge House Nursing Home in Wallington and Parkside Nursing Home in Banstead.

The blaze took hold in the top floor and roof of the three-storey home when firefighters arrived just before 2am and fought to evacuate the first floor, which had five residents living on it.

Police then arrived and helped a further nine elderly residents, including removing catheters and drips, before carrying them to safety.

Three members of staff were also taken to safety.

Police duty Inspector Peter Stewart-Maunder said: “We were running into the care home and removing bed-ridden residents. Many of the residents were attached to various pieces of medical equipment. It was very hot in there and you could feel the heat of the water dripping through on to your hands from the fire above.”

Police are not treating the fire as suspicious and fire inspectors are investigating the cause.

Aniket Patel, care home owner, said: “The main thing for us is that the residents were evacuated safely. They have gone to our sister homes where they are being cared for.

“The emergency teams were all fantastic and our neighbours, they really supported us. All the guests were supported by the neighbours. We thank them for all their support.”