FIRE crews used specialist equipment to break into a block of flats to search for residents they feared could have been unconscious after a blaze.

Two crews were called to St George's Road at about 11.20pm on Thursday after a wheelie bin was set on fire and pushed up against the back door of a house.

The house had been converted into five flats and firefighters had to break in to each one after concerns the severe smoke, which had swept through the premises, may have knocked people unconscious.

Neighbours raised the alarm after a smoke detector went off.

Police are investigating.