TWO women, including an elderly resident, had to be rescued from a bungalow last night after a fire started in their living room.

Firefighters from Beaulieu, Hardley and Hythe Fire Stations rushed to the incident in Beaulieu where an armchair had caught fire.

For almost an hour, four breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the blaze as well as one hose reel and one covering jet.

Two women, one in their 80s and one in their 30s, were led from the bungalow to safety and treated by South Central Ambulance Service at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called off just after 8pm last night.