A MAN who went for a walk to celebrate getting a job came home to find his flat damaged by fire.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze in Richmond Road, Newport, yesterday evening.

No-one was hurt and pets inside the property were rescued by the crews. Tenant Ron Osbourne was out when the fire started in his first-floor flat.

"I went out for a walk because I had just got a job and felt really good," said Mr Osbourne. He returned less than an hour later to find his home and belongings severely damaged by the fire.

Mr Osbourne was upset and shaken by what had happened. He said it could have happened the previous night when his young daughter Hannah was visiting him.

Owner of the house Ron Black was in his flat downstairs when the blaze started. "I was having a cup of tea and could smell something but I thought I had left the gas on. Then someone knocked on the door and told me about the fire."

He tried to go upstairs but said he couldn't get near. Neighbour Karen Williams was one of those who raised the alarm. "I heard glass breaking," she said. "I looked out and just saw the flames coming out of the flat so I telephoned the fire brigade."

Firefighters from Maindee and Malpas, led by sub officer Len Morgan, were called out just before 5.45pm. "On arrival the crews were faced with a developing fire in the first floor flat," said sub officer Russel Johns.Using breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets we quickly extinguished the fire."

He added that cats inside the property had been rescued by the firefighters."

Residents say that parking is a problem in Richmond Road, and Mr Black and neighbours said it was fortunate no-one had double parked a vehicle yesterday evening. "Seconds can be vital," added Mr Black.