THE fire service carried out a dramatic rescue at a high-rise block in Worcester after a blaze completely destroyed one of the flats.

One person was rescued following the incident on the fifth floor of a 13-storey block in St Clement’s Close, off Tybridge Street, St John’s, yesterday afternoon.

The person was treated by paramedics for the effects of smoke inhalation.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze at 1.20pm, originally sending three fire engines before sending a fourth from Malvern.

Police closed off Tybridge Street and part of New Road for about an hour while firefighters used a ladder to reach the burning flat.

A fire service spokesman said: “We initially mobilised three appliances from Worcester but due to further calls we mobilised a further appliance for Malvern.

"At the height of the incident, four breathing apparatus and two jets were in use.”

Other people were told to stay in their flats until given the all clear.

When resident Peter Nielsen heard the alarms, he originally thought it was a fire drill.

It was only when he went into his bedroom and saw there was smoke that he realised there was a real fire.

He said: “I went out onto my balcony and saw smoke coming out of one of the fifth floor flats below.

"The advice given to us here is to stay in our flats and shut the door – the flats are all like concrete boxes.”

Mr Nielsen then stayed on his balcony watching events unfold beneath him.

“The fire brigade came quickly and there were certainly three or four ambulances. I could see the police and lots of traffic stuck on the road.

“The biggest appliance was across the whole of Tybridge Street.”

Within an hour, the fire was out – thanks no doubt, in part, to the fact the fire service do regular practice drills at the high rises.

“I am very reassured if something like this ever happens again.

"I am very satisfied the fire service have got their drill well rehearsed in order to ensure the safety of residents in the block,” said Mr Nielsen.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

No one from was West Midlands Ambulance Service was available to comment.