AN ELDERLY man is in intensive care after he was rescued from a burning house last night.

Neighbours alerted firefighters after the semi-detached house in Links Road, West Wickham, caught alight.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus to reach the man from a landing on the first floor.

He was taked to Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, suffering from smoke inhalation and possible inhalation burns.

The fire broke out in a bedroom.

Around 15 per cent of the first floor was damaged in the blaze.

Crews from Beckenham, Woodside and the Fire Rescue Unit from New Cross arrived at the scene around 1am.

Beckenham watch manager Richard Knighton said: "The fire had been going a long time and it was a slow build-up."

The cause of the fire is being investigated.