Police and fire service investigators have launched a inquiry into a fire at a home in Stone, which killed a cat.

A crew from Dartford fire station was called to the blaze, in St James Lane, at around 9.20pm yesterday and spent three hours putting it out.

No one was hurt and luckily the elderly couple who live in the house were away at the time, but one of two cats rescued from the property died.

Firefighters arrived to find the ground floor of the two-storey building "well alight".

Wearing breathing apparatus, they used a hose reel and main jet to contain and tackle the flames.

The ground floor suffered 30% smoke damage.

A firefighter from Dartford said the blaze was "extensive" but could not comment on how it started.

He said: "There was no one in the house at the time of the fire. Police also visited the scene and are now investigating with our fire investigators."

The cats suffered the effects of breathing in smoke, and were placed in the care of RSPCA officers. Sadly, one of them later died.

Next-door neighbour Michael Chapman, 32, said it was a terrible shame to see the extent of the damage done to the house.

He: "The only thing we saw was the fire engine turning up.

"It was quite a bad fire but by the time I got out there the fire brigade was dealing with it.

"We don't know how it all happened but I know that the old couple of who live there were on holiday and are now on their way back.

"It was horrible to see what happened to the house, they're a lovely old couple and they've lived here for years."