A MAN was plucked to safety by firefighters when a blaze tore through a block of flats in North Yorkshire.

The 25-year-old had become trapped by heat and smoke as the fire took hold on the second floor of the block in Scarborough.

Firefighters used a ladder to get to the man during the rescue, which took place at around 3pm yesterday.

The building was severely smoke and fire damaged in the incident.

Fire investigators and scenes of crime officers were today sifting through debris at the scene of the fire in Westbourne Grove, South Cliff, Scarborough.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.