UPDATE: 11.25AM

Mr Edwards' mother, Jean Murphy, said her son may be forced to sleep on the settee in her one-bedroom flat when he’s eventually released from hospital.

She said: “We have to find out where he lives because he can’t live there and because of the bank holiday he can’t get in touch with the council.”

UPDATE: 4.35pm

The mother of the man in his 40's who suffered smoke inhalation said he's still in hospital but doing okay.

Jean Murphy, 68, the mother of Chris Edwards, said her son is lucky to be alive after his flat caught on fire.

Ms Murphy said: "He was lying down in his room. The next thing he could smell smoke.

"He was trapped and couldn't get out as the door was on fire. With these flats there is only one door - they are dangerous for that.

"He rang me up and told me what was going on. I ran up there and the fire was blazing."

"He couldn't get out until the firefighters came and broke in."

"He's very lucky to be alive - the firefighters got to him quick enough."

Mr Edwards' cat Tilly was also given oxygen. After a visit to the vet she is staying with family members.

A joint investigation by Gwent Police and SWFRS into the fire is ongoing.

11.02 am

A MAN was rescued by firefighters from a flat fire in Newport last night.

Fire crews from Malpas, Cwmbran and Duffryn attended to a first floor flat on Itchen Road in Bettws after receiving a 999 call at 9.23pm.

Firefighters rescued a man who suffered severe smoke inhalation. He was given oxygen therapy and was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital by ambulance.

Fire investigation and police attended the scene and determined the cause of fire to be deliberate ignition.