A man smashed a first floor window and jumped for his life last night as his home burned.

A neighbour in Coventry Road, Ilford was trying to rescue the trapped man with a ladder when he made his desperate escape.

Ilford Fire Station watch manager Pat Hegarty told the Recorder the man broke a double-glazed window and jumped.

Firefighters then gave the man emergency medical aid at the roadside as they waited for an ambulance crew to reach the scene.

The man is currently in the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, with serious burns and a head injury.

The helicopter medical emergency service – travelling in a car – took the man to hospital at just after 7.15pm.

Two crews from Ilford Fire Station spent about 30 minutes putting out the blaze, saving 75 per cent of the first floor and all of the ground floor from fire damage.

At least one other woman escaped from the house before fire crews arrived, but she did not suffer any injuries.

Did you see what happened, or have any images of the fire? Email newsdesk@ilfordrecorder.co.uk, or call 020 8477 3806.