Additional reporting by Oliver Leonard

A woman has been flown to a London hospital after an explosion at a bungalow.

Emergency crews were called to the property in Canterbury Road, Charing, shortly before midday.

The cause of the explosion has yet to be established, but a woman has been taken by air ambulance to King’s College Hospital in London, while a dog that walked from the rubble to fire crews is also under the care of a vet.

Pictures show extensive damage to the bungalow, where firefighters have been working to tackle the blaze.

At its height five fire engines, a bulk water carrier and fire investigation team were at the scene.

By 7pm this had been reduced to two engines to dampen down remaining hotspots with the road still closed in both directions.

Kent Police and a volunteer response team from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are also in attendance.

The fire service also confirmed there had been one casualty reported with all other residents accounted for and receiving support from police officers.

The incident commander for the fire service told KentOnline the cause of the explosion has not yet been established but added the building has totally collapsed.

A KFRS spokesperson said: “Crews have made good progress and are damping down remaining hot spots.

“An investigation into the cause will begin when it is safe to do so.

“The family dog walked out to firefighters from the rubble and has been handed into the care of a vet.

“People are still urged to avoid the area while emergency services work at the scene.”

At 9.30pm, the fire service issued an update to say firefighting operations had finished.

A spokesperson said: “All hotspots have been extinguished and firefighting operations are now complete at the scene of the bungalow fire in Canterbury Road in Charing.

“Kent Police are now managing the scene and the road will remain closed until further notice.

“An investigation into the cause will begin when it is safe to do so.”

Neighbours have told KentOnline how “everything shook” following the explosion, which saw debris rain down on their homes and black smoke billowing into the sky.

One said: “It was an unimaginable bang – everything shook and you can see where the bungalow was.

“You wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

The South East Coast Ambulance service (SECAmb) said it was initially called at 11.50am to reports a glider aircraft had hit the bungalow, but it has since been confirmed no plane was involved in the incident.

A SECAmb spokesperson added: “Crews assessed and treated one female at the scene, before being joined by the Air Ambulance Charity, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, who airlifted the patient to King's College Hospital in London for further medical treatment.”

Nearby residents and shopkeepers have reportedly been evacuated from the area, with police cordons blocking access to Canterbury Road.

A police spokesperson said: “Police are currently assisting at the scene of a fire reported at 11.44am on Canterbury Road, Charing.

“A road closure is in place while crews respond to the incident.”

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