A BLACKPOOL man was critically ill in hospital after being pulled from a blazing flat.

Two fire crews from Blackpool were called to the fire at an end-of-terrace building in Cookson Street, Blackpool, at around 8.50pm on Sunday, November 2.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building and rescued the man from the blaze in a second floor flat.

Neighbours named him as Raymond Andrews. He was given first aid by fire crews before being taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.

It is understood hospital doctors discovered Mr Andrews had breathed in carbon monoxide and he was taken for treatment in the decompression chamber at Lancashire Police headquarters at Hutton before being transferred to the intensive care unit at Royal Preston Hospital.

As The Citizen went to press Mr Andrews was described by a hospital spokesman as "critical but stable".

Mr Andrews's flat was gutted by the fire, which also caused smoke and heat damage to the hall, stairs and landing of the building and smoke damage to three neighbouring flats.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman John Taylor said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

"We would like to stress that smoke detectors are vital," he said. "Although the man survived, this fire clearly could have been a killer."

He added: "Blackpool residents should bear in mind that fire officers are willing to make house calls on people who perhaps have got concerns about the fire safety in their flat or house."

He added that smoke detectors can also be fitted by the fire service.