A warning about the dangers of cigarettes that are not fully extinguished has been issued by Medway firefighters following a flat fire.

Crews were called to a flat in Rochester Street, Chatham, at 12.55am this morning (Thursday) after a settee caught alight.

The occupants called 999 but had managed to extinguish the flames before firefighters arrived.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fire is believed to have been started by smoking materials.

"People need to make sure that smoking materials, such as cigarettes, are completely out and put them into a container that can not catch light."

Firefighters were also called to a fire on marshland in Grain yesterday(Wednesday) which is being treated as suspicious.

Three fire engines were called to the blaze at Clubb’s Pit around 7.30pm and battled flames for an hour.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious as there were two seats of fire, which have damaged the land."