Firefighters rescued eight people from a burning building in Ham, after arsonists set fire to a bed on Sunday night.

Two elderly residents were rushed to Kingston Hospital suffering smoke inhalation following the blaze at Hawkins House, Ham Close.

The fire, at around 8.40pm, blackened most of the newly decorated three floor block.

Residents were evacuated by Surbiton firefighters and most spent the night with relatives.

Joseph Walshe, 74, was watching television when smoke started pouring into his flat.

He said: "The smoke came in so quickly and it was so black you could hardly see. It was very frightening. I didn't know how I was going to get out. I opened the window and could see firefighters had arrived below. They smashed my window to get in, carried me out on a stretcher and laid me down on the grass.

"Then we realised two other people were still trapped inside the block.

"I was taken to Kingston Hospital and spent the night with my son in Middlesex.

"The block looked so nice after it had been decorated. It was like coming home to a mansion.

"It's a terrible thing to happen, but I'm alive."

Neighbours rescued his pet budgie, Joey, which he has had for 23 years.

Mr Walsh, who has lived in the block for 44 years, added: "I don't know who saved Joey but it's amazing he survived.

"He gives me something to look forward to."

Mr Walshe's wife Rose Betty, 79, was in hospital during the blaze.

The fire started after a bed left on the first floor landing was deliberately set on fire, firefighters said.

Surbiton Fire Station commander David Kennett said: "It was a very serious fire but thankfully we managed to put it out in good time and kept the fire damage down to a minimum.

"We could see people at their windows who couldn't get out and put ladders up against the walls in case we had to carry them out that way, but we were able to get people safely down the stairs."

He urged people not to leave items in stairways and called for anyone with information about the fire to contact police on 020 8541 1212.

Most of the residents evacuated were treated by London Ambulance staff at the scene.

rclifford@london.newsquest.co.