An unidentified man thought to be in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a fire at his Finchley home on Monday.

Firefighters from three stations including Finchley and Hendon arrived at the scene of the blaze at Alder Court in Long Lane at 4pm and broke down the front door of the property to remove the occupier.

Finchley firemen said the victim had already crawled from the front room into the hallway before they arrived.

The man was then taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit at St Thomas's Hospital in south east London where his condition was described as stable on Tuesday.

It then took 15 minutes for the fire, which caused extensive damage to the property, to be brought under control using a total of four appliances ,, one from Finchley, another from Hendon and two fire engines from Hornsey Fire Station.

A 32 year-old man was questioned in connection with the blaze and has been released on police bail.