TWELVE people had to be rescued from their homes as the roof of a block of flats in St Mary Cray caught fire last night (February 27).

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led them to safety down the internal staircase in Luddesdown House, Rookery Gardens, while crews battled the blaze on the roof after it started at about 6pm.

The flames damaged around a fifth of the roof which was in the process of being resurfaced by contractors on behalf of property owner Affinity Sutton.

One tenant, who did not want to be named, says her son was sleeping in their home when the fire started.

The 39-year-old said: “Last night was a bit of a nightmare.

“I came home at about 6.45pm and they did not realise my son was still asleep on the sofa and I said to them ‘My son will be in there’.

“I was really scared and at that time the flames were going crazy.

“They went and woke him up and got him out, the firefighters were fantastic.”

London Fire Brigade has now deemed the fire to be non-suspicious.