Two firefighters have been taken to hospital after being injured as they rescued a woman from her burning home in Telford.

Fire crews arrived at the blaze in Bembridge, Brookside, at 3.30pm yesterday to find the woman, in her early 40s, trapped in an upstairs bedroom.

Residents tried bravely to save their neighbour but were forced back by the heat and fumes coming from the blaze.

Some firefighters put a ladder up to the window to rescue the trapped woman while colleagues battled the flames and smoke billowing from the hallway.

Neil Groves, station officer at Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “The woman was brought to safety and given oxygen before an ambulance took her to the Princess Royal Hospital.

“Two firefighters were injured in the operation.

“They suffered burns to their hands and were also taken to hospital for treatment. Fire damage was confined to the hallway but the rest of the house was heavily smoke logged.”

Detective Inspector John Elcock, from Telford police, said: “Officers from CID in Telford are now working with fire investigators to establish the cause of this fire and early indications are that it may have been started deliberately.

“A male youth has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and he is currently in custody at Malinsgate Police Station.

“At the present time the scene on Bembridge remains cordoned off and forensic work at the property is ongoing.

“This work is expected to continue for at least the rest of the day.

“To reassure the local community we will have additional police patrols in the area while our investigative work continues.”

Crews from Telford Central and Tweedale Fire Stations, paramedics and police were all sent to the scene. The woman taken to hospital is being treated for smoke inhalation but is expected to make a full recovery.

Eight other people were also treated for smoke inhalation following the incident.

By Peter Finch