A man is helping police with their enquiries following a rooftop fire in Tenby yesterday.

The fire brigade were called to the blaze shortly after 2.38pm after a resident of Northcliffe House, above Woolworths in Tudor Square, smelt smoke.

At first I thought it was coming from the street, but then I realised it was inside the building," the resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Western Telegraph.

"I knocked on all the doors of the flats to let people know, and when I got to the top flat, the door was hot and smoke was coming out, but I couldn't get any response."

A tourist noticed a man on the roof, on the parapet at the back of the building.

"The fire crews were tackling the fire and didn't realise he had been in the flat," said the resident. "A holidaymaker told me there was a man on the parapet at the back of the building, so they went up through the velux window and brought him in."

A 25-year-old was taken to Withybush Hospital by ambulance suffering from smoke inhalation and burns to his upper airways. He was later discharged.

Four fire appliances attended the scene, including a turntable ladder, and ten firefighters used breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to fight the blaze.

Smoke and flames could be seen coming from the roof area of the building which is divided into 11 Pembrokeshire Housing flats for single people and couples. The fire is thought to have started in an attic flat.

Police closed off High Street and part of Tudor Square to traffic to enable emergency services to reach the scene, with several shops, including Woolworths, closing for the afternoon. The road was re-opened around 6pm, with fire crews remaining at the scene until 8pm to dampen down and make the building safe.

Said Inspector Russell Smith of Tenby police: "The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and a man is currently in custody helping police with their enquiries."

Residents of the building were all offered temporary accommodation as a statutory duty by Pembrokeshire County Council, but made their own arrangements yesterday (Monday) evening. However, it is not yet known when they will be able to return, as several of the flats have suffered water and fire damage.

"We will be dealing with the insurance company who will be assessing the building and hoping to get people back into their homes as quickly as possible when it is safe to do so," said Pembrokeshire Housing's chief executive, Peter Maggs.