Thirteen rescued from flats fire

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Thirteen people have been rescued by firefighters after a blaze at a three-story building in Dorset.

The fire started when unattended candles set fire to a bed and bedding at a flat in Cecil Road, Springbourne, Bournemouth, just before midnight.

Fire crews from Springbourne, Westbourne, Christchurch attended.

Christchurch station manager Pete Kerr said the owner of the flat had a "very lucky escape but could easily have died from the smoke or fire itself".

They have since been rehoused by police because smoke has made the flat uninhabitable.

Mr Kerr added: "Unattended candles are still a big problem.

"People need to understand the consequences of leaving them burning and unattended."