A man who was hospitalised after being rescued from a flat fire in Camden Town this morning has been arrested on suspicion of arson.

Firefighters in breathing equipment rescued the 59-year-old from a fourth floor flat in Oval Road.

The man was rushed to the Royal Free Hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

He was then arrested by police on suspicion of arson and is currently in custody at a north London police station.

The blaze saw four other people in a neighbouring flat managing to escape uninjured.

Emergency services were called to the residence just after 6am.

It took four fire engines and 21 firefighters from Clerkenwell, Belsize, Kentish Town and Euston fire stations more than an hour-and-a-half to get the fire under control.

They fought the blaze just hours before fellow firefighters stood proudly shoulder to shoulder outside Belsize and Clerkenwell fire stations as they closed for the final time this morning due to City Hall cuts.

The flat was partially damaged in the blaze.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by police and London Fire Brigade.