AN ELDERLY man is intensive care following a fire which is believed to have started because he was smoking in bed.

Dennis Silcox, 80, was rescued from his smoke-logged flat by firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera. Before they arrived, neighbours had tried to smash their way into the flat, but were forced back by thick smoke.

Six firefighters entered the first floor flat, in the Peter Furkins Court sheltered housing complex in Westcott Place, and found Mr Silcox collapsed in the kitchen.

He was taken to Great Western Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, and was later moved to intensive care. He was said to be in a stable condition this morning.

The blaze broke out just after 9pm on Friday. Mr Silcox's neighbour and friend Albert Pearson, 72, noticed smoke coming from a bathroom window. Mr Pearson grabbed a hammer and another neighbour, Phil Webb, smashed the front door in.

A retained fire fighter, Steve McCrae, who works as a taxi driver, was passing and stopped to help. He too was unable to enter the premises.

Mr Pearson said: "Dennis had difficulty walking, and wouldn't have been able to get down the stairs. We wanted to get in and help him, but the smoke was unbelievable."

Assistant Divisional Officer Mark Gaskarth, who was in charge of the operation, said: "The fire was confined to the bedroom, which was badly damaged, but the rest of the premises was filled with smoke.

"I must praise the actions of the neighbours, who did not attempt to enter the property. If this had happened we probably would have had more people trapped inside. We advise people to stay out, and wait until the fire brigade arrives.

"I would also advise people not to smoke in bed, it is extremely dangerous."