A man set fire to his flat then lashed out at firefighters with a screwdriver as they tried to tackle the blaze.

Aaron Black, 28, admitted wilfully setting fire to the property in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, in the early hours of January 1.

He also pleaded guilty to brandishing a screwdriver at firefighters and lashing out at them and attempting to strike police officers at the block of flats in Birkshaw Brae.

Advocate depute Shirley McKenna, prosecuting, told the High Court in Glasgow: "When the fire brigade arrived there was thick smoke in the lobby and a number of the occupants were, by this time, outside the building in a distressed state.

"Fire officers instructed the accused to leave the burning flat. He ran at them armed with a weapon and refused to leave.

"Due to his aggressive behaviour towards the fire crew the officers retreated and called for urgent police assistance."

The court heard that Black shouted at the firefighters: "We're all burning. I'm going to hell and you are coming with me."

Black was wearing gloves with a piece of wire attached and the screwdriver was secured by the wire. When police arrived Black attempted to attack them and shouted: "It's time to die."

Eventually police managed to detain Black. All the residents in the block of flats had to be evacuated due the to thick smoke from the fire.

Ms McKenna added: "The accused put his own life, the fire crew's lives, the residents in the buildings lives and the attending police officers' lives at risk."

Judge Lady Scott was shown CCTV footage of residents escaping the fire and Black attacking the fire crew and police officers.

Defence counsel Tony Graham said his client regretted his actions and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Sentencing Black to three and a half years in prison, judge Lady Scott told him: "I'm satisfied that you presented a danger to yourself and the public.

"You not only placed the residents of your block of flats at risk, you tried to attack firefighters who arrived to put the fire out. At the time you were highly intoxicated on a mixture of valium and alcohol."

She ordered Black to be monitored in the community for three years after his release.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Black has ten previous convictions, including a breach of the peace involving emergency workers.