A MAN had to be rescued from a block of flats after fire broke out this morning.

Firefighters were called to the block in Cable Street, Shadwell just before midday to the blaze on the seventh floor.

The man was led to safety by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and around half of his flat was damaged.

Kate Anthony, who lives in a block opposite, saw the scenes unfold.

She said: “There was a large orange ball of fire coming out of the balcony and into the floor above.

“It wasn’t very nice to see. It’s the reality of living in London on top of other people that if fire breaks out it’s not just one place affected.”

Crews got the fire under control by 12.12am.

Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch and Soho fire stations were at the scene.

London Ambulance Service sent one crew.

A spokesperson said: “We treated one patient and took them to the Royal London Hospital with smoke inhalation.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.