Investigations will continue today into a fire at a block of flats in Hunstanton.

Eastern Daily Press: Three fire crews were at the scene of a fire in Hunstanton. Photo by David Bale.Three fire crews were at the scene of a fire in Hunstanton. Photo by David Bale. (Image: Archant)

Eight people had to leave their homes for up to two hours following the blaze at an upstairs flat in Chiltern Crescent on Wednesday.

One man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and kept in overnight, but his condition was not said to be serious.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We know the man who lives upstairs and suffered smoke inhalation in the fire, just as Mark. He's lucky to be alive.

'My other half was in the bath and I was on the sofa, when a friend banged on our window saying there was a fire in the upstairs flat.

'I went outside and I could see flames coming from the window. We did not know if Mark was in the flat at the time, but my partner rushed upstairs and helped pull him out of the flat. Mark had already put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but he had been in that smoke for about 15 minutes. He could have lost his life.'

The flats are owned by Freebridge Community Housing whose deputy chief executive, Sean Kent, said: 'We are in close contact with the people affected by the fire in Chiltern Crescent, Hunstanton, and will continue to support them in any way we can.

'We are working alongside the fire service while they are conducting their investigations.'

Firefighters were called to the blaze at around 11.20pm on Wednesday.

Crews from Hunstanton, Heacham and Sandringham attended, and people were allowed back into their homes between midnight and 1am. The police and ambulance services also attended.