Firefighters broke down a Baldock pensioner’s front door to rescue him after he collapsed amid a kitchen fire in the early hours of this morning.

Emergency crews rushed to Woodland Way shortly before 4am to help the man, thought to be over 80, who had been overcome by the effects of the fire.

After firefighters broke through the door, the man was brought out of the property and checked over for smoke inhalation and burns before being taken to Stevenage’s Lister Hospital.

The fire was out by 4.30am. There was some smoke damage to the kitchen.

A crew from the British Red Cross’s Beds and Herts emergency response unit also attended and assisted the man following the incident.

The Comet understands the man is in a stable condition.