A MAN managed to escape a blaze which ripped through his Woodley home last night.

Fire crews from Whitley Wood and Dee Road were called to Welford Road at 8pm and crew manager Mark Crawford said: "The occupant had got himself out of the building before we arrived, but the bedroom was completely gutted and the whole first floor was affected by smoke damage."

Crews spent three hours at the scene and the cause of the blaze is unknown.