Four people had to flee a house in the middle of the night following a fire.

One man in his 50s had to be take to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

The fire was caused by a dishwasher that caught light at 4am this morning at Grantley Close, South Ashford.

The family, including a child of six or seven, were woken up by a smoke alarm but got out in time.

An Ashford Fire Station spokesman said: “One gentleman in his 50s suffered smoke inhalation and had we gave him oxygen at the scene.â€

The victim was then taken by ambulance to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital.

Fire crews believe the blaze was caused by an electrical fault in the dishwasher.

The machine was partially destroyed by fire and the rest of the kitchen suffered mostly smoke damage.

Both fire engines from Ashford were called to the incident.