A woman has been rescued from a flat fire in Sheen Road, Richmond.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued the woman from the fire that is believed to have started about 6.30pm from a tea candle left on top of a television.

Part of the flat was damaged by the blaze and there was thick black smoke throughout the building.

Another woman from an adjacent flat was led to safety by fire crews.

Both women suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Fire station watch manager Tony Fleming said; "Candles should always be placed on a flame retardant surface and never left unattended."

The fire was extinguished by crews from Richmond and Kingston shortly after 6.45pm.