A woman jumped from the first floor of a house after a fire broke out in the early hours of this morning.

She injured her legs as she plunged from a converted house in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Another six people were also dramatically rescued from the blaze.

Fire crews used a ladder to rescue another woman and two men from a first floor window and firefighters in breathing apparatus rescued three men inside the property.

All six were treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance staff.

As people inside the house waited for firefighters to arrive they stayed on the phone to fire brigade control officers, who offered survival advice which helped to keep them as safe as possible.

Firefighter Keith Malecki, who was at the scene, said: “The building was very smoky when we arrived, but we were able to quickly get in to rescue the people.

“They were woken up by their smoke alarms going off, which meant they could call the brigade as soon as they were aware of the fire.

“The smoke alarms saved their lives – make sure you get one and test it regularly.

“If you have a fire, especially in the middle of the night, it could be the difference between life and death.”

The blaze started in the hallway just after 3am and caused damage to the ground floor.

Four fire engines went to the scene from West Hampstead and Paddington fire stations.

Some 21 firefighters brought the fire under control by 4.30am.

The cause is under investigation.