Firefighters forced their way into a burning flat last night and carried an unconscious young woman from to safety.

Three crews from Garston and Watford fire stations raced to the scene, in Foxhill, at about 10pm.

As the flames spread from the kitchen of the property, four firefighters climbed a ladder and scrambled onto a balcony, before carrying the victim safely to the ground.

She was then resuscitated by waiting paramedics and rushed to Watford General Hospital.

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze. The condition of the victim, said to be in her 20s, is not yet known.

Watch Commander Derek Macleod, from Watford Fire Station, said the crews’ brave actions had undoubtedly saved the woman’s life.

He said: “It was a very good job by all the guys involved to go in and get her out like that.

“She was trapped inside the building so if they hadn’t done that the chances are this would have been a far more serious outcome.”

Emergency services spent about an hour on the scene.