A pensioner was found collapsed in his smoke-filled home when firefighters broke in.

The 75-year-old man was rescued from the house, in Manchester Street, Morpeth, and given oxygen before being taken to Ashington's Wansbeck General Hospital, where doctors kept him in overnight for observation.

The smoke was from a chip pan which caught fire after the man fell asleep.

He woke to find his home filled with smoke and managed to pull an alarm cord linked to a care centre before collapsing.

Leading firefighter, Rob Cherry, of Morpeth Fire Station, said: "We were there in four minutes, and forced open the door.

"We found the man on the floor, still conscious, and brought him out. He is lucky."