Tipton flat fire forces couple to jump from window Published duration 14 August 2014

image caption The fire service used tarpaulins to protect the flats below from any debris caused by clearing out the top floor

A man and a woman jumped from the window of their second floor flat to escape a fire.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, suffered serious leg injuries in the 20ft (6m) fall at the property in Tipton, West Midlands.

The woman needed treatment for the effects of breathing in smoke.

The fire broke out at about 23:30 BST on Wednesday and spread to a neighbouring flat, causing part of the roof to collapse.

'Entice them to jump'

About 20 firefighters dealt with the blaze, which gutted the flat.

A neighbour on Lissimore Drive said: "There was no chance of getting in, and we had to kind of entice them to jump."

Area commander for West Midlands Fire Service, Simon Shilton, said: "This was a serious fire in a low-rise block of flats, which had the potential to be a great deal worse."

It happened half-way through the latest one-hour strike by firefighters, and non-striking contingency workers were brought in until the normal night shift took over.

The Fire Brigades Union is in dispute with the government over pensions.

image copyright Ian J Reacord image caption The fire broke out at about 23:30 BST Wednesday