TEN people were evacuated from a block of flats early today after a blaze started when a resident fell asleep while cooking.

The sleepy chef was taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation from the kitchen fire at the flats in Stockleigh Road, Hastings.

No one else was hurt.

Crews from the Bohemia Road station and The Ridge station were called at 12.10am.

They spent 45 minutes at the scene and quickly brought the fire under control.

Sub Officer Mark Hobbs said the block's excellent fire precautions saved residents.

He said: "The occupants of the flats were awoken by a mains linked alarm. The flat where the fire started had blankets and fire extinguishers on hand.

"It looks like the man who lived there came home late, tried to cook something with oil, but fell asleep."

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