TWO men were rescued from the top floor of a blazing block of flats during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

More than 20 firefighters battled the fire, which started in a launderette beneath a number properties in Watford Road, Sudbury, at 12.23am

The blaze raged for an hour, completely destroying the shop and filling the flats above with thick smoke.

Five men escaped from the burning building before the brigade arrived.

An eyewitness said: "The shop was totally gutted and the men were lucky to get out in one piece."

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Watch Manager Lee Cousins said; "The fire spread rapidly and crews worked extremely hard to stop the fire from spreading to the flats above."