THREE people were reported missing as fire spread through their first-floor flat.

The alarm was raised at 1.20pm today and fire crews from Lowestoft North and South stations arrived at Commercial Road to smoke was billowing from the first floor of a converted mid-terrace property.

At 1.52pm it was reported that only one of the residents was inside and they managed to flee. Paramedics took the casualty to hospital for treatment.

Two further crews were called in to help tackle the blaze.