A woman has been taken to hospital after a flat fire in Kingston earlier this morning.

Firefighters were called to a flat fire on Fairfield East at 7.35am today (April 17).

A three-roomed ground floor flat in a three-storey residential building was completely destroyed by the fire.

One woman suffering from smoke inhalation was rescued by fire crews wearing breathing apparatus using an escape hood and was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

One adult was led to safety from the second floor and two further adults left the building before the Brigade arrived.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire was under control by 9.23am. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters from Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden, Twickenham, Wimbledon and Richmond fire stations attended the scene.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes' protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people.

“If more than 15 minutes' protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer.

“They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier."