Eight people were rescued from a fire which broke out at a block of flats in Beckenham.

Crews from Beckenham and Woodside fire stations were called to the High Street at 10pm last night.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus assisted seven people out of the flats, which were above shops.

After the initial rescue another casualty was found and rescued from the property. London Ambulance were also called to the scene.

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance said: "We sent two ambulance crews, two single responders in cars, a duty officer, members of our hazardous area response team and a doctor from London's air ambulance in a car.

"Our staff treated a man believed to be in his 60s, he was given pain relief at the scene and taken to Kings College hospital in a serious condition.

"A second patient was treated at the scene for minor injuries."

Phil Parke, Watch Manager at Beckenham fire station said: "The fire was contained to the top floor flat.

"The cause of the blaze is not yet known and fire investigation teams will be there today."