BRAVE pub staff rushed to the rescue of an elderly man when they saw his Kingswinford home had gone up in flames.

Staff at The Mount Pleasant pub dialled 999 after seeing smoke billowing from the neighbouring property on Cot Lane at around 11.40am this morning (Tuesday).

The manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We saw smoke through the windows of the pub so ran round and saw the fire.

"It's a couple that live there, she was out shopping but we didn't know that at the time - the man was by the front saying 'help me', we got him out and checked to see if anyone else was home."

Paramedics took the man, who was suffering with smoke inhalation, to Russells Hall Hospital for further treatment while firefighters battled the blaze.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said the fire had started in the kitchen but the cause was currently unknown.