A small fire in a wheelie bin melted a burglar alarm and damaged the fascia of a house.

The blaze started before midnight in Goldwell Lane, Aldington, on Saturday and neighbours alerted the fire brigade to the unattended fire.

The occupants of the house were out.

Kent Fire and Rescue said there was no evidence to indicate how the fire had started.

A thermal imaging camera was used to gauge the extent of the damage.

The Ashford crew spent half an hour putting it out with water but stayed behind to try and locate the property's owner.