FIREMEN had to break down the door of a flat in Malvern's Church Street to rescue two men trapped by fire.

One man in the third floor flat at 18-23 Church Street, above the Oxfam shop, was taken to hospital in Worcester with burns after being helped to safety by Malvern firefighters.

He was later released. Another man was treated for smoke inhalation by the ambulance service at the scene.

Firefighters were called to the scene just before 1.30am on Sunday morning.

Malvern Fire Station's leading firefighter Robert Cumbley said it was suspected the fire had been caused by a candle placed next to the bedding of one man, who was said to be sleeping on the floor.

"We suspect that it was a nightlight, a small candle that was too close to a sleeping bag, and he knocked it through the night while moving around," he said.

"They were lucky to get out because if it hadn't burnt him they might not have known."

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie added that there may have been a problem with the fire alarm system in the living room of the flat.

The alarm was triggered in a communal staircase and the building was evacuated.

"We had to break into both flats, the doors being particularly strong and fire resistant," explained Mr Mackie.

"The building did have a wired fire alarm system. There wasn't anybody in one of the flats but the two people were in the other one."

He added: "It could have been a disaster waiting to happen but fortunately they managed to get them out and put out the fire."

Damage to the contents of the flat was considerable, said Mr Cumbley, and the room was severely damaged by smoke.

Oxfam is landlord of the flats above its shop.

The charity's spokeswoman Julia Tilford said there are smoke alarms in the shop and fire alarms for the whole building, which went off during the incident.

She added that the fire was contained in the flat.