Two teenage girls were dramatically rescued from a house fire last night.

The girls had sought refuge in a small bedroom after recieving advice from a call operator, before firefighters smashed the window with a ladder, allowing them to escape.

Both were taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called to the the blaze at a terraced house in Dames Road, near Leytonstone at 8.30 pm.

The fire badly damaged the ground and first floors of the home and station manager Tim Frost, who was at the scene, praised the actions of the fire crews.

He said: "Both floors of the house, the ground floor and an upstairs bedroom, were well alight when they arrived.

"The girls managed to get themselves to a side bedroom and firefighters pitched a ladder before smashing the bedroom window and bringing them down.

"Undoubtedly their quick actions tonight saved both girls’ lives.”

Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters from Leyton, Leytonstone, Stratford and Plaistow had the fire under control by 10 pm.

A fire service spokesman confirmed the cause of the fire is under investigation.