Two men have been taken to hospital after a fire in a first-floor flat.

Firefighters from Margate fire station were called to Athelstan Road, Cliftonville, at 2.56am after smoke was seen coming from the three-storey building.

They arrived within three minutes of the 999 call and were told an adult and two children may still be in the building.

Crews put on breathing apparatus to carry out a search but minutes later everyone had been accounted for.

Two men who were in their 40s and had breathed in the smoke were given oxygen by firefighters and were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Crews used a hose put out the fire and then a special fan to clear the smoke.

By 3.33am firefighters were damping down. After working with the police, the ambulance service and UK Power Networks, they left the scene at 5am.

Because of the damage, the occupants of the middle-floor flat will need to be rehoused.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.