An elderly man has escaped a serious property fire that devastated a flat on Chickerell Road in Weymouth.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 12:30pm, after reports of a fire inside the property. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service quickly mobilised two crews from Weymouth and Portland, who were sent to tackle the blaze.

Firefighters arrived to find significant damage within the flat, with the fire believed to have started in the kitchen. Early indications suggest the cause may have been a faulty or unattended toaster.

The occupant, a man in his late 80s, managed to escape the property before crews arrived. As a precaution, he was taken to hospital to be checked over. He has since been discharged.

Fire crews worked to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe. An investigation into the exact cause remains ongoing.

Residents in the area reported seeing smoke coming from the property as emergency services responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.