AN elderly man was among ten people who had to be evacuated from a block of flats after fire broke out in the early hours of this morning.

The fire in Haddington is understood to have been caused after wheelie bins stacked at the front entrance to the flats were set alight.

Fire crews were called to Dobson's Place in the town shortly after 3am.

They donned breathing apparatus to go through the three-storey building and make sure everyone was safely out of the flats.

Scottish Fire and Rescue said ambulance crews checked all ten people over for smoke inhalation after the block was filled with acrid black smoke.

The elderly resident, who is in his late eighties, received treatment at the scene from paramedics.

The fire broke out just yards from another block of flats in the town which were targeted by a spate of wheelie bin fires over New Year.

READ MORE: Flat fires could have put lives at risk

Residents at the flats in Dobson's Place told how they looked out to see flames shooting up the front of the building just after 3am.

Cars parked outside the front of the flats were also damaged by the force of the blaze.

Police are at the property this morning as an investigation into the fire is underway.

A Scottish Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "We were called to a report of a dwelling on fire at 3.26am and three fire vehicles from Haddington and East Linton attended.

"The fire was well developed and on arrival fire crew wearing breathing apparatus entered the three-storey building to carry out a search.

"Ten casualties were assessed by ambulance at the scene for smoke inhalation. 

"An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing."