A 35-YEAR-OLD said he had to throw his girlfriend out of a window and on to a car roof to escape a fire which tore through their block of flats.

Jonathan Dobberson had eight friends at his second-storey flat in Campshill Road, Lewisham, at around 2am this morning when someone smelled smoke.

Mr Dobberson, who returned to the scene with his girlfriend this morning, still covered in soot after a night in hospital, said: "I opened the door and saw what was happening.

"We all had to jump out of the window because we had to escape as quickly as we could.

"My missus broke her wrist because I had to drag her and throw her out the window on to a car below."

Neighbouring flats were also evacuated, with 37 people being put up at the  nearby Two8Six gay pub, where the night was still in full swing and part of the bar was set aside for people to drink tea and coffee before going back home at around 5am.

Owner Dave Butler said: "They basically looked shell-shocked as you would do if your house was burning down.

He added: "We're just hoping they're all ok now."

Police were treating the flats as a crime scene today, with damage clearly visible inside and a large dent in the car roof where terrified people had jumped to escape the flames.

Another house nearby in Courthill Road was also cordoned off, as part of the ongoing enquiries.

Caroline Corbey was one of the people evacuated form neighbouring flats. She said: "There was thick black smoke when I looked out of the window I just heard lots of screaming.

"Then I saw a man jump onto a car and he was just telling people to jump, saying there was a baby up there."

Mrs Corbey said fire crews had to break down one of the flat doors to make sure nobody was still inside.

Fire crews rescued five women, one child and a baby from the fire, while also giving life-saving advice to people inside.

In addition to those who were rescued, four people jumped from the first floor of the property before firefighters arrived on the scene at around 2.30am.

The four, two men and two women, were amongst the nine people taken to hospital by ambulance. The remaining five were taken to hospital as they were suffering from smoke inhalation.

A further woman and baby were treated on the scene by crews from London Ambulance Service.

None of the patients' conditions have been described as critical.

Parts of the ground, first, second and third floors of the building were damaged by fire.

A spokesman for the Met Police said the fire is being treated as suspicious.

Officers from Lewisham CID are investigating.

Detective Sergeant Graham Rickard, said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious and we are currently pursuing all lines of enquiry in order to establish how it started.

"This was a very serious incident which could have resulted in multiple fatalities. We urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to please make contact with us."

Anyone with information regarding this incident that can assist police is asked to call Lewisham CID on 020 8284 8339 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.