A man and his cat had a lucky escape after a fire broke out in a basement.

The blaze started at a property in North Street, Ashford in the early hours of this morning after a sauna that was built into the basement was accidentally left on.

The heat radiated to the wood panelling of the sauna and spread.

Firefighters were called at 12.45am and discovered the two storey house was smoke logged.

The occupant, a man in his 20s, had been asleep upstairs and was awoken by the smell of smoke.

He was out of the house when crews arrived, and was not hurt.

Crews used breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a ventilation fan to extinguish the blaze and to clear smoke from the property.

The sauna was 40% destroyed by the fire and the house was completely impacted by smoke.

Firefighters say they also had to rescue a cat that was still in the building.

Watch manager Mark Thomas also released a safety message, as the house was not fitted with a working smoke alarm.

He said: "The man and his cat were extremely lucky to escape this fire.

"There were no smoke alarms on any floor of this house, and as the fire was in a wooden room within a room in the basement, it could have been a lot worse.”

Firefighters fitted three new smoke alarms in the property.

Mr Thomas added: "We always encourage every home to have working smoke alarms fitted on each floor.

"Make sure they are tested regularly to ensure they will work when they are needed. It really is the best way to help protect your family and your home from fire and the devastating consequences, even possible tragedy."

For information about free home safety advice and the KFRS Safe and Well visit call 0800 923 7000.