AN elderly woman is recovering in hospital today after being rescued from her Ipswich flat as a fire took hold in the kitchen.Ruby Gardner, 93, is being treated in Ipswich Hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation following the fire at her home in Limerick Close just before 7.

AN elderly woman is recovering in hospital today after being rescued from her Ipswich flat as a fire took hold in the kitchen.

Ruby Gardner, 93, is being treated in Ipswich Hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation following the fire at her home in Limerick Close just before 7.30pm yesterday.

Mrs Gardner was saved by firefighters and an elderly neighbour who came to her aid after the fire broke out.

Her daughter, Jane Bloomfield, today said Mrs Gardner had been in the kitchen when the fire started but it was unclear what had caused it.

It is not thought she had been cooking at the time.

Mrs Bloomfield said the elderly male neighbour, who was also treated for smoke inhalation after the fire, bravely went to the aid of Mrs Gardner after being alerted to the fire.

She said: “He just went in to try to help the best he could.”

Three fire crews were called to tackle the blaze in the first floor flat.

When they arrived the flat was heavily smoke logged and, according to a spokesman for the fire service, Mrs Gardner and her neighbour were still in the flat.

Firefighters led them to safety and administered first aid before ambulance officers took over.

Mrs Gardner was taken to Ipswich Hospital for further treatment but Mrs Bloomfield said she was expected to make a full recovery.

The fire was brought under control just after 7.45pm.

Firefighters tackled a rubbish and fence blaze in Turin Street, Ipswich, at about 11.05pm yesterday.

One crew from Princes Street brought the fire under control by about 11.20pm.