A family of five have been made homeless after a fire broke out in their house and almost destroyed the top floor of the property.

But the fire could have been much worse - as the family were all sleeping downstairs after a baby soiled a nappy on the upstairs bed.

A mum and her four children were home when it is believed a faulty toy car charger caused the blaze upstairs and ripped through the upper floor within minutes.

The fire broke out shortly after 11pm last night and all four children, their mum and even their cat were able to get out of the home unharmed because their smoke alarm alerted them to the danger.

Crews said the blaze was going well when they got to the scene and the upstairs was destroyed within minutes as the property had a foam ceiling which burnt within minutes right across the top floor of the home.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We think the fire started via a faulty car charger.

“Luckily the children were asleep downstairs as mum has decided to organise a sleep-over as the bed sheets upstairs had to be changed as the baby had soiled her nappy.

“This decision and the fact the family had a working smoke alarm saved their lives.

“The foam ceiling went up in flames in minutes, but everyone got out unharmed and the mum was just shocked.

"The family will not be able to live there at the moment and it has been boarded up.”

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