Couple rescued after arson attack on flats

The pair were kept calm by 999 call-handlers until firefighters arrived at Roughwood Way, Wingfield, at about 2.40am today.

The blaze was started in the bins storeroom on the ground floor but the stairs had become smoke-logged.

Two crews from Rotherham station put out the flames before ventilating the stairs and leading the couple, in their 20s, to safety.

A fire spokeswoman said: “Our control team gave them advice on the phone until the crews arrived, about keeping doors closed and staying calm.

“Both were fine but taken to hospital as a precaution. Our crews left the scene at 4am and the incident is logged as deliberate.”